Fit-Outs
Turning an empty shell or a tired unit into a working space for your business: partitions, ceilings, flooring, toilets, kitchens and staff areas, with the lighting, power and heating built in.
08 / 15 Construction & conversions
Commercial Construction
A building project for your business has to be delivered safely, on programme and with as little disruption to your staff and customers as possible. As commercial building contractors, we carry out building work for offices, shops, restaurants, clinics, warehouses and other commercial premises, and we plan it around the way your business runs.
Because our team includes builders, electricians, plumbers, heating engineers, tilers and decorators, one contractor handles the structure, services and finishes. You get one programme, one quote and one point of contact, whether the job is a single unit refurbishment or a larger building project.
- Free survey
- Itemised written quote
- One project manager
- Certified sign-off
05Our Commercial Building Work
07Steps from survey to sign-off
11Topics covered on this page
£0For your survey or quote
Our services
Our Commercial Building Work
Refurbishments
Upgrading existing offices, shops and premises, from new layouts and finishes to replacing worn-out services, often carried out in phases so the business can keep trading.
Extensions and Alterations
Adding floor space, forming new openings, installing steelwork or reconfiguring the layout of an existing commercial building.
Change of Use
Adapting a building for a new use, such as a shop becoming a café or an office becoming a clinic, including the building regulations work the new use requires.
New Commercial Buildings
Constructing new commercial buildings from groundworks and foundations to the finished interior, with piling contractors where the ground needs it. For new homes and flats, see our new builds service.
Not sure which?
We recommend the right option at your free survey
Every house is different — we check what suits yours before you commit to anything.
Request a commercial quoteWorking around your business
Working Around Your Business
Commercial work often takes place in or next to a building that is still in use. We plan for that from the start:
- Phased work: Splitting the project into stages so parts of the building stay open.
- Out-of-hours working: Noisy or disruptive tasks scheduled for evenings, weekends or closing days, where the site and neighbours allow.
- Safe separation: Hoarding, dust screens and protected walkways between the work area and your staff or customers.
- Deliveries and access: Planned around loading restrictions and busy trading times.
- Clear communication: A named contact and an agreed programme, so you know what is happening each week.
Health & safety
What Are the CDM Regulations?
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, known as CDM, set out how health and safety must be managed on every construction project in Great Britain, including commercial work. They give duties to three main parties:
- The client: The business commissioning the work. Commercial clients must make sure the project is properly managed, appoint the right people and provide relevant information about the building, such as asbestos surveys.
- The principal designer: Where more than one contractor is involved, this role plans and coordinates health and safety during the design stage.
- The principal contractor: Where more than one contractor is involved, this role plans, manages and monitors the construction work on site.
Every project needs a construction phase plan. Larger projects, those expected to last more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers on site at the same time, or to exceed 500 person-days, must also be notified to the Health and Safety Executive. We explain your duties as a client at the start and manage the construction phase in line with the regulations.
What you need to know
Do You Need Planning Permission for Change of Use?
It depends on the current use and the new one. Many commercial uses, including shops, offices, cafés, gyms, clinics and nurseries, fall within a single use class, Class E, and moving between uses in that class does not usually need planning permission. Changing to a use outside the class, such as a hot food takeaway, a pub or housing, usually needs planning permission or, in some cases, prior approval from the council.
Planning permission is also usually needed for external changes such as new shopfronts, extensions, extraction flues and signage, which may also need advertisement consent. Listed buildings and conservation areas bring extra controls. We check the planning position before work is priced and programmed.
Compliance
Building Regulations and Compliance
Commercial building work must meet the building regulations, and a change of use often triggers requirements that did not apply before. The main areas are:
- Fire safety: Escape routes, fire doors, fire separation, emergency lighting and alarm systems, installed through our fire alarm installation and maintenance service. The responsible person for the premises must also keep a fire risk assessment up to date.
- Access: Accessible entrances, toilets and routes for staff and visitors.
- Energy and ventilation: Insulation, efficient lighting and heating, and ventilation or air conditioning through our air conditioner installation service.
- Asbestos: Buildings built before 2000 may contain asbestos. A refurbishment and demolition survey is needed before work disturbs the building fabric.
- Electrics: Power, lighting and distribution boards installed and certified through our commercial electrical installation service.
Cost
What Affects the Cost of Commercial Construction?
Every project is priced from drawings or a site visit, and you receive a written, itemised quote. These are the main factors:
01
Scope and floor area
The size of the space and whether the work is a light refurbishment, a full fit-out or a new building.
02
Condition of the building
Structural repairs, asbestos removal and replacing old services.
03
Services
Electrical, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, plumbing and fire systems.
04
Specification
Ceilings, flooring, partitions, kitchens, toilets and finishes.
05
Working hours and phasing
Out-of-hours or phased work to keep the business open.
06
Access and location
Restricted access, loading bays and parking on London streets.
07
Compliance and fees
Design, building control, planning, CDM and any specialist surveys.
No guesswork: you receive a written, itemised quote after your free survey, with payments staged against clear points in the work.
Timescale
How Long Does a Commercial Build Take?
A small shop or office refurbishment is the quickest type of project, a full fit-out of a larger unit takes longer, and a new commercial building takes the longest. Phased or out-of-hours working extends the overall programme but keeps your business running. Lead times for specialist items such as shopfronts, kitchens and air conditioning also affect the timing. Your quote includes a programme for each stage.
08 — One team
One Contractor for Building and Services
Commercial projects depend on the services as much as the building work. We coordinate:
Electrics and fire alarms
Through our commercial electrical installation and fire alarm services.
Plumbing and heating
Toilets, kitchens, hot water and heating through our plumbing services.
Tiling and decorating
Hard-wearing wall and floor tiling through our tiling and grouting service, and a durable finish through our decorating services.
Process
Our Commercial Construction Process
Every stage is planned before we start, with one project manager from survey to sign-off.
- 01
Initial meeting and site visit
we look at the premises, the drawings and how your business operates.
- 02
Scope, programme and quote
an itemised quote, a programme and a proposed phasing plan.
- 03
Approvals and CDM
planning, building control, landlord's consent where needed, and the construction phase plan.
- 04
Site set-up
hoarding, protection and safe access routes.
- 05
Construction
strip-out, structural work, services and finishes, in the agreed phases.
- 06
Testing and commissioning
electrical, fire and mechanical systems tested and certified.
- 07
Handover
building control completion, certificates, operation and maintenance information, and a final walk-round.
Areas
Commercial Construction Across London
We work as commercial builders across London, with a focus on east and south-east London, from high-street units to business parks and industrial estates. Find out more on our pages for commercial construction in London, commercial construction in Ilford, commercial construction in Barking, commercial construction in Dagenham, commercial construction in East Ham and commercial construction in Orpington.
FAQs
Commercial Construction FAQs
Can't see your question? Call or WhatsApp us — we're happy to help before you book.
Q1
How much does commercial construction cost per square metre?
There is no single rate. The cost per square metre depends on whether the work is a light refurbishment, a full fit-out or a new building, the services required, the specification and the working hours. We give you a fixed, itemised quote based on drawings or a site visit.
Q2
What are the CDM Regulations?
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 set out how health and safety must be managed on construction projects. They place duties on the client, the principal designer and the principal contractor, and require a construction phase plan for every project.
Q3
Do I need planning permission for change of use?
Not if the old and new uses are both within Class E, which covers most shops, offices, cafés, gyms and clinics. Changing to a use outside that class, such as a takeaway, a pub or housing, usually needs planning permission or prior approval.
Q4
How long does a commercial build take?
A small refurbishment is the quickest, a full fit-out takes longer, and a new building takes the longest. Phased or out-of-hours work adds time but keeps your business open. Your quote includes a programme.
Q5
Can you work while our business stays open?
Yes. We can phase the work, carry out noisy tasks out of hours and separate the work area from your staff and customers, so you can keep trading wherever it is safe to do so.
Q6
Do you also carry out commercial electrical work?
Yes. Electrical work for commercial premises is carried out through our commercial electrical installation service, and it can be part of the same project and programme as the building work.
One team, every trade
Often Combined With
Next step
Request a Commercial Quote
Tell us about your premises and your project. We will visit, review any drawings, explain the approvals and CDM duties involved, and send you a written, itemised quote and programme.
Send us your drawings or photos of the premises on WhatsApp to get started, or use our contact form.