Design & build in Fitzrovia
MVV is a design and build contractor working on homes and commercial spaces across Fitzrovia, in W1T and W1W. We design and build refurbishments, conversions and interiors with one accountable team, which matters in a dense, busy part of central London where good planning and organisation make all the difference. Fitzrovia combines Georgian terraces and garden squares with lively streets of restaurants, studios and flats above shops. It is a neighbourhood of mixed uses and tight sites, where every project needs careful thought about neighbours, access and the building's history.
Fitzrovia's buildings and what they need
Fitzrovia's architecture runs from the eighteenth-century terraces of Fitzroy Square, with its stone-faced sides designed by Robert Adam, to Victorian mansion blocks, former workshops and mixed-use buildings along Charlotte Street and the surrounding streets. Many residential homes are flats above commercial premises or within converted townhouses.
These buildings often need their layouts rethought, their services renewed and their sound and fire separation improved, while keeping staircases, joinery and plasterwork that give them their character.
Planning, listing and mixed use
Fitzrovia is split between the London Boroughs of Camden and Westminster and is largely covered by conservation areas, with many listed buildings, particularly around Fitzroy Square. Listed building consent is needed for works affecting a listed building's character, and changes of use or alterations to shopfronts and upper floors are carefully controlled.
Where a project involves flats above a restaurant or shop, fire safety, acoustic separation and access all need to be designed in from the start. We coordinate these requirements at the design stage.
The projects we take on in W1
In Fitzrovia we refurbish flats and townhouses, reconfigure upper floors of mixed-use buildings, restore period interiors and fit out restaurants and commercial spaces. Kitchens, bathrooms and bespoke joinery are central to making compact central London homes work well.
Narrow streets, loading restrictions and close neighbours mean site logistics need to be planned in detail, including delivery times and waste removal.
Nearby work on Baker Street
In neighbouring Marylebone, we refurbished a former Michelin-starred restaurant on Baker Street with Red Deer Architects, restoring original features, redecorating throughout and introducing new lighting and a custom sound system. Our hospitality fit-outs elsewhere include Enoteca Rosso on Kensington High Street, a two-storey former bank converted into a restaurant.
The MVV approach
MVV brings design and build under one contract, with a team of 35 designers, builders and project managers and an office in Chiswick. We work across residential, commercial and hospitality projects and carry £10M public and employers' liability cover.
What we do in Fitzrovia
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- Is my Fitzrovia building listed?
- Many buildings in Fitzrovia are listed, particularly around Fitzroy Square, and most of the area is within conservation areas. You can check the national list, and we confirm the status of your property at the start of every project so the right consents are planned.
- Can you refurbish a flat above a shop or restaurant?
- Yes. Flats in mixed-use buildings need particular attention to fire separation, sound insulation and access, and the freeholder's consent is usually required. We design these elements in from the start.
- Do you fit out restaurants and commercial spaces?
- Yes. We deliver hospitality and commercial fit-outs as well as homes, including restaurant projects such as Enoteca Rosso on Kensington High Street and Kiez in Notting Hill.
- How do you handle deliveries on busy central London streets?
- We plan deliveries around loading restrictions and quieter times, use smaller vehicles where needed, and agree arrangements with the council and neighbours in advance. Good logistics keeps a central London site safe and the programme on track.
- How long does a flat refurbishment take in Fitzrovia?
- It depends on the size of the flat, the scope of work and whether listed building consent is needed. We set out a realistic programme in your proposal.