Builders in Brighton

Brighton building services

Brighton has one of the most varied housing stocks in the South East, and that variety shapes the building work homeowners ask about. Victorian terraces in Hanover and Kemptown are often extended up into the loft or out into the rear garden, while Edwardian houses around Preston Park lend themselves to side return extensions that open up a narrow kitchen. Further north, the inter-war semis of Patcham and Hollingbury are regularly renovated or given a rear extension and a hip-to-gable loft. If your home is on the other side of the boundary, our Hove page covers builders there.

Many Brighton homeowners choose to extend rather than move, keeping the area they know while gaining the room they need. Parts of the city sit within conservation areas and some homes are listed, so the planning position can change from one street to the next. Rather than assume your project is straightforward, check with Brighton and Hove City Council before you settle on a design. The builders who quote can tell you what they have seen on similar houses, but the council has the final say.

Typical projects include single and two storey rear extensions, side return extensions, dormer and hip-to-gable loft conversions, garage conversions into a home office or extra bedroom, and full house renovations. Whatever the job, you fill in one short form or call 01273 115520, and up to 3 checked local builders will be in touch to arrange a visit and a quote. The service is free and there is no obligation to accept any of the quotes you receive.

What building work costs in Brighton

None of the cost guides we use publishes prices for Brighton itself, so the figures here are national or South East guides from named sources. Less.co.uk puts a mid range single storey extension in the South East at £1,900 to £2,900 per m², excluding VAT, professional fees and interior fit-out. Less also says restricted access can add 5 to 10% to the cost, which is worth bearing in mind on terraced streets where materials and spoil have to come through the house.

For loft conversions, Checkatrade gives an average of £50,000 for a 30m² dormer, within a range of £40,000 to £60,000, and an average of £60,000 for a hip-to-gable conversion. Checkatrade puts a typical garage conversion at £10,000 to £20,000, with an average of £15,000. Your own quotes will depend on the size of the job, the specification you choose and the condition of the building. Our extension cost per m² guide and loft conversion cost guide go into more detail.

Planning and building regulations in Brighton

Planning permission and building regulations are two separate approvals. Under permitted development, the Planning Portal says a single storey rear extension must not extend more than three metres beyond the original rear wall of a house, or four metres for a detached house, and these rights apply to houses only, not to flats or maisonettes. In a conservation area, side extensions and rear extensions of more than one storey need householder planning permission. GOV.UK sets the householder application fee in England at £548 from 1 April 2026.

Building control charges vary by council, so check Brighton and Hove City Council's building control page, or ask a private registered building control approver, who will set their own fee. Rules are different again for listed buildings, and permission is never guaranteed, so speak to the council's planning team early if you are unsure. Our extension planning permission guide explains the main limits in more detail.