How Long Does a London Renovation Actually Take? A Realistic Timeline

The most consistent thing clients get wrong when planning a renovation is the timeline. Expectations set at the start — often based on what a contractor told them in a competitive pitch — frequently have no bearing on when the project actually completes.

Here is an honest account of what a London renovation takes, by phase.

Why renovation timelines are underestimated

There are structural reasons the industry tends to underestimate timelines:

Competitive pressure. When contractors are bidding, the one who promises a shorter programme has a competitive advantage. The accurate programme is submitted after the job is won.

Pre-construction work is invisible. Clients often start counting time from when builders arrive on site. The design, specification, planning, and procurement phases that precede site start are time-consuming but not visible as "the renovation."

Unforeseen conditions. Work inside old buildings routinely discovers conditions that require additional investigation, engineering, or remediation. These extend the programme.

Supply chain. Bespoke joinery, specialist stone, imported sanitaryware, and high-specification hardware all have lead times. Programme failure happens most often because materials are not on site when needed.

Phase-by-phase timeline: full house renovation

Brief and feasibility: 2–4 weeks. Client brief, initial site visit, feasibility assessment. Understanding what is wanted, what is possible, and what it will cost.

Design development: 4–12 weeks. Measured survey, design development, specification development, material selection. The range is wide because it depends on scope complexity and how quickly clients make decisions.

Planning permission (if required): 8–16 weeks. From application submission to decision. Westminster typically runs 8–10 weeks for straightforward householder applications; more complex applications take longer. Pre-application discussions add 4–8 weeks if required.

Party wall process (if required): 2–12 months. From serving notice to agreement. Cooperative neighbours with no concerns can agree within weeks. Contested party wall awards with professional surveyor involvement take months.

Building regulations: 4–8 weeks. For Full Plans submission, expect 4–5 weeks to approval with a competent agent.

Contractor procurement: 4–8 weeks. Tendering, evaluation, negotiation, and contract execution.

Procurement of long-lead items: 8–16 weeks. Bespoke joinery, stone, specialist hardware, fitted furniture. Procurement should start during the pre-construction phase, not after works begin.

Build: 12–52 weeks depending on scope. Indicative build programmes by scope type:

Total time from brief to handover

For a full house renovation with no planning requirement, no party wall issues, and a well-organised pre-construction phase: 9–14 months is a realistic total.

For a full house renovation with planning permission and straightforward party wall process: 14–20 months.

For a project involving a basement and contested party wall: 24–36 months is not unusual.

What can be done to compress the programme

Some things genuinely accelerate a programme: - Start design and specification early - Make decisions promptly — every week of indecision is a week added to the programme - Order long-lead items early — procurement during design is standard practice on well-run projects - Have planning pre-application discussions before submitting

Our approach

ASAAN prepares a detailed pre-construction programme at the start of every project that includes all phases from design to handover. We are transparent about what is achievable.

If you are in the early stages of planning a renovation, contact us and we can give you a realistic timeline assessment for your specific project.