Renovating a Period Property in Covent Garden: What to Know

Covent Garden's period housing stock - a rich mix of architectural styles around the historic Piazza, London's first modern square, laid out by Inigo Jones in the 17th century - is a big part of its appeal, and also the reason renovation here isn't quite like working on a modern new-build. Older buildings simply behave differently, and the City of Westminster's planning rules reflect that, applying more strictly in places to protect the character that defines the area.

What's usually different about older properties

• Foundations - Victorian and Edwardian houses were often built on shallower footings than current standards require, which can mean extra structural work for extensions.
• Walls - solid brick or lath-and-plaster walls behave differently from modern cavity walls and plasterboard, particularly around damp, insulation and chasing for wiring or plumbing.
• Roofs - original timber roof structures vary in condition and pitch, which affects both loft conversion design and cost.
• Windows and doors - in the Covent Garden conservation area, designated in 1971 after a campaign to save it from redevelopment, replacements often need to match the original style, materials and even glazing pattern.

Conservation area considerations

If your property sits within the Covent Garden conservation area, designated in 1971 after a campaign to save it from redevelopment, several permitted development rights are commonly restricted or removed altogether - this can include cladding, painting brickwork, replacing windows and doors with anything other than a matching style, and some roof alterations that would otherwise be permitted. It's genuinely worth checking your property's exact conservation area status with the City of Westminster before finalising any design, since the boundaries can be street-specific.

Finding the right builder for a period property

Not every builder is equally comfortable with older buildings - working with lime mortar, original timber, or a house that turns out to have no damp-proof course at all requires different judgement from a standard new-build extension. When you're comparing builders for a project in Covent Garden, ask specifically about their experience with period properties of a similar age, not just their general portfolio.