Does the Crown Estate need to approve my refurbishment?

If your apartment or building is on Crown Estate land, as much of St James's is, alterations usually need its consent in addition to planning or listed building consent. We prepare the information required and allow for approval in the programme.

Can you integrate modern services into a listed apartment?

Yes. We plan routes for heating, cooling, electrics and data that avoid damaging historic fabric, and we coordinate these with the listed building consent so everything is agreed before work starts.

Do you work to the standards of managed apartment buildings?

Yes. We agree working hours, protection of common areas, lift use and deliveries with building management, and we run tidy, well-organised sites.

Do you offer bespoke joinery for high-end interiors?

Yes. Bespoke joinery is one of our core services, from dressing rooms and libraries to media walls and kitchens, designed to suit each space.

How long does a high-end apartment refurbishment take?

It depends on the scope, the specification and the consents involved. We set out a realistic programme in your proposal and manage it with one team.

Does the Crown Estate need to approve my refurbishment?

If your apartment or building is on Crown Estate land, as much of St James's is, alterations usually need its consent in addition to planning or listed building consent. We prepare the information required and allow for approval in the programme.

Can you integrate modern services into a listed apartment?

Yes. We plan routes for heating, cooling, electrics and data that avoid damaging historic fabric, and we coordinate these with the listed building consent so everything is agreed before work starts.

Do you work to the standards of managed apartment buildings?

Yes. We agree working hours, protection of common areas, lift use and deliveries with building management, and we run tidy, well-organised sites.

Do you offer bespoke joinery for high-end interiors?

Yes. Bespoke joinery is one of our core services, from dressing rooms and libraries to media walls and kitchens, designed to suit each space.

How long does a high-end apartment refurbishment take?

It depends on the scope, the specification and the consents involved. We set out a realistic programme in your proposal and manage it with one team.

Central London

Design & build in St James's

MVV is a design and build contractor working on apartments and period buildings in St James's, across SW1Y and SW1A. We design and deliver refined refurbishments with one accountable team, bringing the organisation and finish this exceptional part of London requires. St James's is one of the most prestigious addresses in London, with grand townhouses, private members' clubs, galleries and elegant apartments close to Green Park and St James's Park. Residential projects here are typically high-end, and the standards expected are exacting.

St James's buildings and what they need

The area's buildings include Georgian and Victorian townhouses, mansion blocks and purpose-built apartment buildings, many with rich interiors of panelling, plasterwork and stone. Apartments often combine grand reception rooms with dated kitchens, bathrooms and services that need a complete renewal.

Most projects aim to create a modern, comfortable home within a historic shell: new kitchens and bathrooms, climate control, lighting and technology, all carefully integrated so they do not compete with the architecture.

Consents, listing and estates

St James's lies within the City of Westminster and is protected as a conservation area, with a high proportion of listed buildings. Much of the area is owned by the Crown Estate, which has its own consent process for alterations.

For listed buildings, listed building consent is needed for works affecting their character, inside and out. We plan the full set of approvals at the design stage, including landlord and estate consents, and prepare the drawings and specifications they require.

The projects we take on in SW1

In St James's we focus on high-end apartment refurbishments, restoration of period interiors, bespoke joinery and the careful integration of modern services. Protection of common parts, controlled working hours and discreet logistics are part of every project.

Our team coordinates closely with managing agents and building management to meet the standards expected in the area's apartment buildings.

Nearby work on Park Lane

A short walk away on Park Lane in Mayfair, we refurbished a two-storey apartment overlooking Hyde Park, with high-end interiors and landscaping and the original wood and marble flooring restored rather than replaced. It reflects the care and finish we bring to prime central London homes.

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. You have one point of responsibility from first brief to handover, and we carry £10M public and employers' liability cover.

What we do in St James's

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Does the Crown Estate need to approve my refurbishment?: If your apartment or building is on Crown Estate land, as much of St James's is, alterations usually need its consent in addition to planning or listed building consent. We prepare the information required and allow for approval in the programme.
Can you integrate modern services into a listed apartment?: Yes. We plan routes for heating, cooling, electrics and data that avoid damaging historic fabric, and we coordinate these with the listed building consent so everything is agreed before work starts.
Do you work to the standards of managed apartment buildings?: Yes. We agree working hours, protection of common areas, lift use and deliveries with building management, and we run tidy, well-organised sites.
Do you offer bespoke joinery for high-end interiors?: Yes. Bespoke joinery is one of our core services, from dressing rooms and libraries to media walls and kitchens, designed to suit each space.
How long does a high-end apartment refurbishment take?: It depends on the scope, the specification and the consents involved. We set out a realistic programme in your proposal and manage it with one team.