GS Renovation designs and builds house extensions throughout Soho and the W1 postcode, adding space to the bay-fronted Victorian and Edwardian terraces the area is known for. Drawing on more than 30 years across Westminster, we handle everything from foundations and steelwork to the final fit-out, and we guide you through planning or permitted development from the very start.
Side return extensions in Soho terraces
The side return is the most valuable space in a Soho terrace. Filling in that narrow strip beside the rear closet wing widens a cramped galley kitchen into a proper kitchen-diner, and a rear or wrap-around addition can extend it further into the garden. We dig and lay the foundations, build the walls, install the steel beams needed to open up the old rear wall, and form the new roof, often with rooflights to draw daylight deep into the plan.
Whether your extension is permitted development or needs a full planning application depends on the property. Many Soho terraces fall within a conservation area, and some are listed, which usually removes permitted development rights and means an application to Westminster City Council. We assess this before any design work, prepare the drawings, and manage the submission so you know exactly where you stand rather than discovering a problem halfway through the build.
Double storey extensions across Soho W1
Where the plot allows, a double storey extension adds a bigger kitchen below and a bedroom or bathroom above in a single build. On the tighter Soho plots, this needs careful thought about foundations, party walls and the impact on neighbouring light. Because the dividing walls in these terraces are shared, you serve Party Wall Act notices and agree a schedule of condition before we break ground, protecting both you and the houses either side.
Once the shell is up, our own trades take over the fit-out: plastering, joinery, electrics, plumbing, heating, tiling and decoration, all finished to match the character of the original house. We keep the site clean and secure, which matters on the busy central streets of W1 where space is tight and neighbours are close. From the first sketch to building control completion, you deal with one team that stays accountable throughout.
- Steel goalpost frames where the rear wall opens up
- Full fit-out, finishing and making good
- Roof works and structural alterations at roof level
- Drainage diversion and build-over agreements with the water authority
- Insulation, airtightness and thermal detailing to regulations
The GS Renovation Difference in Soho
Extending in central Soho means working within a conservation area, on a tight plot, with shared walls and close neighbours. GS Renovation has done exactly this across W1 and Westminster for over 30 years. We manage the planning route, the structure and the finish under one roof, giving you clear pricing, tidy working and a build that respects the period home.
- Foundation depth set after trial holes, drains and trees are checked
- Rated 4.9 from 31 reviews on MyBuilder
- Our own trades on site rather than a chain of subcontractors
- Straight advice on what is and is not worth spending money on
- Aftercare and snagging support once the job is finished
- Garden levels and access made good where the build meets outside