This time our client was a developer who has a broad portfolio of properties in south-east London. His goal was to convert a large semi-detached house in New Cross by splitting it into three flats, which would provide a much better return on his money. The existing layout was a real challenge. A three-storey ‘house’ sat above a small basement flat, the entrance to which could be confusing for visitors to find.
There were significant cracks in the walls and ceilings and we would have to find a way to turn the cramped and uncomfortable rooms into spaces where people would actually want to live. Additionally, the layout of the three-storey house needed a radical overhaul as the two ground-floor bathrooms were next to one of the lounges while the kitchen was up on the first floor. The whole site made very little sense in the shape it was in, and it would need a lot of work, and some inspiration, to turn it into an appealing place to spend time.
Converting your property by splitting it into multiple flats requires insightful design and an innovative approach to create and maximise the best use of your space. But if you can do it well, this kind of conversion can provide a major boost to your rental income and makes for happy tenants. Our suggestion was building a side and rear double-storey extension. This filled the space underneath the main entrance and meant that all three apartments would now share the same door onto the main street, meaning no more lost Amazon deliveries.
We made the basement flat almost 20 square metres larger, with two en-suite bedrooms and a large kitchen diner leading out to a walled garden. The ground floor became a slightly smaller one-bedroom apartment with a study and a spacious living-dining area. The first and second floors now make up a larger duplex with two en-suite bedrooms on the first floor and a spacious and airy top-floor living and dining area. Overall, we have added 60sqm to the main building to meet minimum space requirements.
And as we were in charge of the tender and construction of the project, we were able to ensure that the flats have exceptional build quality and finishes, which helped our client maximise his investment and rental profit while ensuring the new residents have stylish and welcoming places to live, a stunning contrast to what had been there before.
We specialise in crafting creative design and planning strategies to unlock the hidden potential of developments, secure planning permission and deliver imaginative projects on tricky sites
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