Design & build in Primrose Hill
MVV is a design and build contractor working on homes in Primrose Hill, across NW1 and NW3. We design and build refurbishments, extensions and interiors with one team from start to finish, so what is drawn is exactly what gets built. Primrose Hill has the feel of a village in the middle of London, with colourful Victorian terraces, garden squares and a strong sense of community around Regent's Park Road. Its streets are carefully protected, and good design here is about working with the character of the neighbourhood rather than against it.
Primrose Hill homes and what they need
The area is defined by its mid-Victorian terraced houses, many with stucco fronts painted in soft colours, as around Chalcot Square, together with semi-detached villas and houses divided into flats. Rooms are well proportioned, but kitchens are often in the basement or at the back of the house, gardens are narrow and services are dated.
Owners typically want to open the lower ground floor to the garden, create a larger kitchen and family space, add bathrooms, and improve warmth and light, all while keeping the features that make these houses so appealing.
Planning in a protected neighbourhood
Primrose Hill lies within the London Borough of Camden, and most of it is a conservation area. The uniformity of many terraces, including their rooflines, is a big part of what the designation protects, so roof extensions and changes visible from the street are carefully controlled. Rear extensions and lower ground floor alterations are often more achievable, provided they respect the scale of the house and its neighbours.
We review the relevant conservation area guidance at the start of every project and design with it in mind, which gives a planning application its strongest chance.
The projects we take on
Our work in an area like Primrose Hill includes rear and side infill extensions, lower ground floor refurbishments, full house renovations, flat refurbishments, kitchens and bathrooms and bespoke joinery. Where a roof alteration is possible, we design it to sit quietly within the terrace.
Streets are residential and parking is tight, so we plan deliveries, skips and working hours with the neighbours in mind.
Nearby work in Hampstead and Belsize Park
A little further north, we designed and built a 150 square metre apartment on Redington Avenue in Hampstead, with open-plan living, a bespoke kitchen and a bow-window seating area, and refurbished a two-bedroom flat on Eton Lane in Belsize Park in three months. Both projects are typical of the careful, well-finished work that suits Primrose Hill homes.
The MVV approach
We are a team of 35 designers, builders and project managers with an office in Chiswick. Because design and construction are under one contract, you have one point of responsibility and fewer handovers. We carry £10M public and employers' liability cover.
What we do in Primrose Hill
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- Can I add a roof extension in Primrose Hill?
- It depends on the street. In many terraces the unaltered roofline is part of what the conservation area protects, which makes roof extensions difficult. Where there is precedent or the roof is hidden from view, a well-designed addition may be possible. We assess your specific property before recommending an approach.
- Can I extend at the back of my house?
- Often yes. Rear and side infill extensions that respect the scale of the house and neighbouring gardens are frequently approved in Primrose Hill, though properties in the conservation area have reduced permitted development rights, so planning permission is usually needed.
- Can you convert my lower ground floor into a family kitchen?
- Yes. Opening up a lower ground floor to the garden is one of the most popular projects in the area. It can involve structural work, damp-proofing, new drainage and party wall matters, all of which we plan and manage.
- Do you work on flats in converted houses?
- Yes. We refurbish flats as well as houses, working within the lease, obtaining any freeholder licence needed and coordinating with neighbours in the building.
- How long does a house renovation take in Primrose Hill?
- It depends on the size of the house, the scope of work and whether planning permission is needed. We set out a realistic programme in your proposal and manage it with one team.