Hackney is mostly Victorian and Georgian terraces: Stoke Newington and Clapton in the north, De Beauvoir and London Fields in the middle, and Hoxton and Shoreditch in the south, with warehouse conversions mixed in. Many of those houses were divided into flats long ago, which changes what you can do to them.
London Building Contractors
Skilled Builders in Hackney Backed by Our In-House Trades
What We Do
Building Services from Hackney Builders
Every service below is delivered by our own in-house tradespeople, fixed-price and fully insured, so you get dependable builders in Hackney from survey to handover.
Loft Conversions in Hackney
Transform your home with expert loft conversions in London by Alpha London Builders. From design and planning to construction, we deliver quality loft conversions tailored to your needs.
Learn more →House Extensions in Hackney
Rear, side return, wraparound and double storey extensions designed and built to fit seamlessly with your London home.
Learn more →Basement Conversions in Hackney
Cellar conversions, basement lowering and full new excavations, engineered and waterproofed to BS 8102 by our in-house team.
Learn more →Garage Conversions in Hackney
Integral, attached and detached garage conversions into bedrooms, offices and annexes, most without planning permission.
Learn more →Property Refurbishment in Hackney
Cosmetic updates through to full structural refurbishments, managed under one dedicated site manager from start to finish.
Learn more →General Building in Hackney
Repointing, roof repairs, damp treatment, brickwork and small structural alterations, carried out by our own trades.
Learn more →Design & Build in Hackney
One team, one contract, one fixed price for design, planning, structural engineering and construction on your project.
Learn more →New Builds in Hackney
New homes and replacement dwellings built from foundation to final finish, with zero-rated VAT on construction costs.
Learn more →Commercial Building in Hackney
Office, retail and restaurant fit-outs across London, delivered around your trading hours with minimal disruption.
Learn more →Residential Building in Hackney
The full range of residential building work, from a single repair to a new build, delivered by one London contractor.
Learn more →Building Demolition in Hackney
Safe, fully licensed demolition work across London, from internal wall removal to complete house demolition ahead of a new build.
Learn more →Why Choose Us
Why Choose Our Hackney Builders
Terrace and side-return specialists
Hackney's Victorian plots need steel, drainage and party wall planning, and we handle all three from the survey.
Conservation area aware
We check Clapton, De Beauvoir, Stoke Newington and other designations before pricing, so you know early what needs consent.
Shared-building experience
Many Hackney homes are in converted houses. We help you think through freeholder consent, noise and access before work starts.
Fixed, itemised quotes
After the survey you get a written price with the scope itemised, so changes are agreed rather than assumed.
Local Knowledge
Building & Planning Considerations in Hackney
Hackney has many conservation areas, including Clapton Square, De Beauvoir, Stoke Newington and Hackney Central, and listed buildings are common. In a conservation area, changes visible from the street, such as roof alterations, windows and front boundaries, need permission, and rear dormers are often restricted too. If your home is a flat or maisonette, permitted development does not apply at all, and your lease is the first thing to read. Houses outside conservation areas keep standard rights for rear dormers and single-storey rear extensions.
As Hackney builders, every quote we provide for a Hackney property starts with a check against Hackney Council's conservation area maps and Article 4 register, so you know exactly which route your project needs before any design work begins.
Local Guide
Building in Hackney: what to know before you start
Terraces, conversions and period detail
A typical Hackney street has two- or three-storey terraces with a back addition at the rear, which creates the narrow side return that people often build into. Many have been split into two or three flats, so the first question is usually who owns what. Georgian terraces around De Beauvoir and Hackney Central also tend to be listed or locally protected, and keeping sash windows, brick and ironwork matters to the council as much as to you.
What works, and how it usually goes
For a terraced house, a loft conversion in Hackney is typically a rear dormer, sometimes with a mansard where the street already has them. A side-return extension is the classic way to open up a kitchen. Where the lower ground floor has headroom, a basement conversion can add a floor. For tired period houses, a full refurbishment deals with wiring, plumbing and plaster in one programme.
Planning ahead on a shared building
If the building is divided into flats, you will need the freeholder's consent and often the neighbours' as well, and party wall notices apply to nearly every structural job. In a terrace, the roof allowance is 40 cubic metres rather than 50. We make a plain summary of all of this at survey, so you know what needs approval before you hire an architect.
What we do in Hackney: Loft conversions in Hackney · House extensions in Hackney · Basement conversions in Hackney · Garage conversions in Hackney · Property refurbishment in Hackney
Worth reading first: Do you need planning permission for a loft conversion? · How long does a house extension really take?
Nearby: Builders in Newham · Builders in Southwark
Ready to talk? Book a free site survey and we will tell you in writing which planning route your address needs.
Areas We Cover
Areas We Cover in Hackney
Dalston
Stoke Newington
Clapton
De Beauvoir
London Fields
Hackney Wick
Homerton
Shoreditch
Don't see your street listed? Our builders in Hackney cover the whole borough and the surrounding area — get in touch to check.
Our Work
Recent Hackney Projects
A look at recent work carried out for clients in and around Hackney.
Family Bathroom Renovation
A dated bathroom stripped back and rebuilt with full tanking, marble-effect tiling, underfloor heating, and a walk-in shower enclosure.
View Project →
Open-Plan Kitchen Renovation
A dated, closed-off kitchen opened up into a bright, modern open-plan kitchen with new cabinetry, worktops, and appliances.
View Project →What Clients Say
Reviews from Hackney
“We had our kitchen and bathroom done at the same time and expected chaos. Instead we got one site manager, one clear schedule, and a fixed price that didn’t move once.
”
Michael O'Connell
Full Refurbishment, Stratford
Common Questions
FAQs About Builders in Hackney
Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion in a Hackney terrace?
Outside a conservation area, a rear dormer is usually permitted development, as long as the added volume is within 40 cubic metres for a terrace. In a conservation area, or for a flat, you will need to apply. Building Regulations approval is required in all cases.
Can I build a side-return extension in a conservation area in Hackney?
Often yes, but permitted development rights are tighter and a planning application is more likely. The council looks at how the extension relates to the original building and neighbours, and a design that keeps the rear character tends to fare better. We check designations first.
I own a flat in a converted Hackney house. Can I extend or add a loft?
Not under permitted development, which does not apply to flats. You will need planning permission and, in almost every case, the freeholder's consent under your lease. Many freeholders also expect to see structural drawings and insurance before agreeing.
Will a basement conversion in Hackney need a party wall agreement?
Almost certainly, if the house is terraced or semi-detached. Digging within three metres of a neighbour's foundations triggers notice under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996, and underpinning usually needs a structural engineer's design. Planning permission may also be needed depending on the extent.
Ready When You Are
Get a Free Quote from Our Hackney Builders
Free site survey, a fixed-price quote within 48 hours, and one team from first fix to final handover.
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