Southwark runs from the riverside at Bermondsey and Borough, through Walworth, Camberwell and Peckham, to the leafy streets of Dulwich and Nunhead. It has Georgian terraces, Victorian villas, railway arches and large estates, and almost every street comes with a different set of rules.
London Building Contractors
Builders in Southwark You Can Call on with Confidence
What We Do
Building Services from Southwark Builders
Every service below is delivered by our own in-house tradespeople, fixed-price and fully insured, so you get dependable builders in Southwark from survey to handover.
Loft Conversions in Southwark
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 Southwark
Rear, side return, wraparound and double storey extensions designed and built to fit seamlessly with your London home.
Learn more →Basement Conversions in Southwark
Cellar conversions, basement lowering and full new excavations, engineered and waterproofed to BS 8102 by our in-house team.
Learn more →Garage Conversions in Southwark
Integral, attached and detached garage conversions into bedrooms, offices and annexes, most without planning permission.
Learn more →Property Refurbishment in Southwark
Cosmetic updates through to full structural refurbishments, managed under one dedicated site manager from start to finish.
Learn more →General Building in Southwark
Repointing, roof repairs, damp treatment, brickwork and small structural alterations, carried out by our own trades.
Learn more →Design & Build in Southwark
One team, one contract, one fixed price for design, planning, structural engineering and construction on your project.
Learn more →New Builds in Southwark
New homes and replacement dwellings built from foundation to final finish, with zero-rated VAT on construction costs.
Learn more →Commercial Building in Southwark
Office, retail and restaurant fit-outs across London, delivered around your trading hours with minimal disruption.
Learn more →Residential Building in Southwark
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 Southwark
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 Southwark Builders
Dulwich Estate aware
We check the scheme of management early in Dulwich, so approvals run alongside planning rather than after it.
Georgian and Victorian detail
Camberwell, Walworth and Bermondsey houses need period-sensitive brickwork, windows and roofs, and we match them.
Basement planning
We assess headroom, party walls and groundwater at survey before recommending a basement.
Fixed price, itemised
You get a written, itemised quote after the survey, so the figure agreed is the figure you pay.
Local Knowledge
Building & Planning Considerations in Southwark
Southwark has dozens of conservation areas, including Camberwell Grove, Dulwich Village, Peckham and parts of Bermondsey, and many listed buildings. In Dulwich, the Dulwich Estate runs a scheme of management, so external alterations to many properties need the Estate's approval as well as any planning permission. Flats and maisonettes have no permitted development rights, and basement works are carefully assessed. Outside the protected areas, houses keep standard rights for rear dormers and single-storey rear extensions.
As Southwark builders, every quote we provide for a Southwark property starts with a check against Southwark 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 Southwark: what to know before you start
Georgian terraces to suburban Dulwich
Camberwell, Walworth and Bermondsey have Georgian and Victorian terraces, many listed or in conservation areas. Peckham and Nunhead are mostly Victorian terraces with a mix of conversions. Dulwich and East Dulwich have bigger family houses, many under the Dulwich Estate scheme. The north of the borough has more flats and former warehouses, where the freehold and lease come first.
Choosing a project
On Victorian terraces in Peckham or Nunhead, a loft conversion in Southwark or a side-return extension is the usual route. In Dulwich, an extension needs more attention to the Estate's requirements. Georgian terraces with generous lower ground floors can suit a basement conversion, and period houses that need everything redone suit refurbishment.
What to check first
Find out if you are in a conservation area or Dulwich Estate scheme, and whether the house is listed. For flats, read the lease. Basements bring party wall, structural and flood questions. We sort these out at survey so there are no surprises later.
What we do in Southwark: Loft conversions in Southwark · House extensions in Southwark · Basement conversions in Southwark · Garage conversions in Southwark · Property refurbishment in Southwark
Worth reading first: Do you need planning permission for a loft conversion? · Building Regulations vs planning permission
Nearby: Builders in Greenwich · Builders in Hackney
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 Southwark
Peckham
Camberwell
Dulwich
Bermondsey
Rotherhithe
Borough
Walworth
Nunhead
Don't see your street listed? Our builders in Southwark cover the whole borough and the surrounding area — get in touch to check.
Our Work
Recent Southwark Projects
A look at recent work carried out for clients in and around Southwark.
Rear Extension — Open-Plan Kitchen & Living Space
A single-storey rear extension that opened up a cramped, closed-off floor plan into one bright, open-plan kitchen and living space.
View Project →
Full Flat Refurbishment
A complete top-to-bottom refurbishment of a London flat — new kitchen, new bathroom, rewired, replastered and redecorated throughout.
View Project →What Clients Say
Reviews from Southwark
“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 Southwark
What is the Dulwich Estate scheme of management?
It is a set of rules, separate from planning, that controls external alterations on many properties in Dulwich. If your house is covered, you need the Estate's approval for extensions and many exterior changes, in addition to any planning permission.
Can I extend a listed Georgian terrace in Camberwell?
Possibly, but you will need listed building consent and probably planning permission. The council focuses on historic fabric and appearance, so rear additions that do not touch original features have the best chance. A pre-application meeting is wise.
Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion in a Southwark conservation area?
Often yes. Permitted development is restricted in conservation areas, and the council looks closely at roof changes visible from the street. A rear dormer may still be possible but needs checking against local policy. Building Regulations always apply.
Is a basement conversion practical in Southwark?
Sometimes. It depends on ground conditions, groundwater, neighbour proximity and planning policy. Terraced houses with high lower ground floors are the easiest. We assess the site at survey and tell you honestly if it looks too difficult.
Ready When You Are
Get a Free Quote from Our Southwark Builders
Free site survey, a fixed-price quote within 48 hours, and one team from first fix to final handover.
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