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Vacant former pub and club on Allitsen Road, St John's Wood, studied by Craftex for conversion to flats

Commercial to Residential Conversion Contractors in London

Got an office, shop or pub that would be worth more as flats? We run commercial to residential conversions in London from the first appraisal to finished homes, with planning, design and the build under one contract.

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Already have a quote? Send it to us and we will aim to beat it.

Our expertise in office to residential conversion

Most of a conversion is decided before anyone picks up a tool: what the building will hold, which planning route fits and whether the numbers work. We answer those first, then design and build the flats ourselves.

  • Feasibility and site appraisal

    What the building can hold, tested against space standards and planning policy. See feasibility and site appraisal.

  • The right planning route

    Prior approval or a full application. Read permitted development and prior approval and change of use.

  • Design to London space standards

    Layouts, daylight, fire strategy and Building Regulations worked out before we price.

  • Strip-out and structure

    Soft strip, new openings, and roof or basement space where the structure allows it.

  • Services built for homes

    Heating, ventilation, drainage, power and fire protection for each flat, not an office floor.

  • Fit-out and handover

    Kitchens, bathrooms and finishes, with every snag closed before you take the keys.

How a conversion runs with Craftex

Send us the address. We look at the building, its current use and its constraints, and tell you plainly whether converting it to flats is worth pursuing.

At Allitsen Road in St John's Wood we developed four design options for a vacant former club in a conservation area, from a light-touch conversion to up to seven apartments, each tested against planning policy and London Plan space standards.

We prepare the application for the route that fits the building: prior approval where the rules allow it, full planning permission where they don't. Our conversion guide walks through each stage.

With consent in place we price the build as a lump sum against a clear scope, so you and your lender know the number before work starts.

Around 60% of our labour is in-house. Our project managers run weekly quality checks and we close every snag before handover.

Finished living room in a Craftex residential refurbishment, Knightsbridge

Free site appraisal for your building

Tell us where it is and how it is used today. We will tell you whether converting it to homes is worth pursuing and which planning route fits.

Building behind a facade-retention scaffold in London

Free Office-to-Residential Conversion Guide (London)

Class MA or full planning, the space standards your flats must meet, and fire safety under the Building Safety Act.

The process step by step, the main risks and cost drivers, and a 20-point checklist to work through before you commit.

Why owners and developers choose Craftex

  • Planning to keys, one team

    Appraisal, planning, design and build under one contract, so nothing falls between consultants.

  • A price you can take to the bank

    Lump-sum build price against a clear scope.

  • Ahead of programme, on budget

    Every project we have delivered has finished ahead of programme and on budget.

  • Around 60% in-house labour

    Tighter control of quality, cost and programme.

  • Good with neighbours

    Noise, waste and delivery plans agreed with building managers, as at Pan Peninsula and Kensington Olympia.

  • Insured and certified

    ISO and CHAS. Public and employers' liability cover of £10M each.

Independently Certified Contractor for Quality, Safety & Reliability

Commercial to residential conversion: your questions

Do I need planning permission to convert offices to flats?

Not always. Many offices, shops and other Class E buildings can become homes through prior approval under Class MA instead of a full application. Some London boroughs remove that right with Article 4 directions, and listed buildings need full consent. Our permitted development and prior approval page explains the rules; full applications are covered under change of use.

How much does a commercial to residential conversion cost?

It depends on the building's condition, how much structure and services change, and the specification of the flats. We don't quote a rate per square metre before seeing the building: the free site appraisal is where you get our first view. Our conversion cost guide explains what drives the price.

How long does a conversion take?

Planning comes first. Prior approval has a 56-day determination period; a full application usually takes longer. Build time depends on size and scope: for reference, our 1,550 sq m warehouse-to-office conversion at Portsoken House took 7 months on site.

Which buildings can be converted to homes?

Offices, shops, former pubs and clubs, and some light industrial buildings. Allitsen Road was a pub, then a private members' club, standing empty before we studied it for conversion. Turning a warehouse into workspace instead? See warehouse conversion.

What are the most common mistakes?

Buying or committing before checking the planning route, underestimating what a residential fire strategy and new services cost, and designing flats that miss space or daylight standards. More in conversion mistakes to avoid.

What size of project do you take on?

Conversion builds from £100,000 to £10M+, and development schemes from £3M to £150M GDV.

Do you stay involved after handover?

Yes. We close every snag before handover and stay on hand for aftercare and any later works.

Send us your building for a free appraisal

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