Build
Office and retail refurbishment in London
GONT LTD is a London building company that refurbishes small offices, shops, salons and cafés: new layouts and partitions, electrics, lighting and data, plumbing and ventilation, and hard-wearing finishes.
A business space has to work for staff and customers, and the building work often has to fit around opening hours.
For made-to-measure counters, shelving and display furniture, and for glazing, windows and doors, see No1 London, which shares our showroom in Fulham.
Scope
What’s included.
- Office layouts, partitions and meeting rooms
- Shop, salon and café layouts and service areas
- Electrics, lighting and data points
- Plumbing and ventilation for commercial use
- Floors, ceilings and decoration
Planning your project
Time, cost and what to prepare.
What affects the time and cost
- The floor area and how much the layout changes
- Whether the business stays open during the work
- Power, data, water and ventilation
- The landlord's requirements under the lease
Before you ask for a quote
- A floor plan and photos of the space
- Your lease, or the landlord's fit-out rules
- How many people and what equipment the space must hold
Rules in the UK
Permissions and regulations.
Since 1 September 2020, shops, cafés, restaurants, offices and many other business uses share Use Class E, so moving between them usually needs no planning permission; a new shopfront or signs can still need planning permission or advertisement consent. Fit-out work must meet the Building Regulations, including fire safety and access; see building regulations approval (gov.uk). The person responsible for the premises must keep a fire risk assessment up to date, as the GOV.UK guide to fire safety at work explains, and owners of non-domestic premises have a duty to manage asbestos.
General guidance only, based on gov.uk and the Planning Portal. Your council or building control has the final say.
Things to watch
- Most leases need the landlord's consent before alterations.
- Signs and shopfront changes can need planning permission or advertisement consent.
- Check the asbestos records before any strip-out.
How it works
From first call to finished room.
- 01
Free consultation and quote
Tell us what you have in mind and we’ll give you a free quote for your project.
- 02
The build
We review the project and agree the details, commence the work, then finish with quality control and a final check.
- 03
6-month warranty
On our construction services.
FAQ
Commercial Refurbishment: your questions.
Do I need planning permission to turn a shop into a café or an office?
Often not. Since 1 September 2020 these uses share Use Class E, so a change between them usually needs no planning permission, although a shopfront or signs can still need consent.
Do I need my landlord's permission?
Usually yes. Most commercial leases require the landlord's consent before alterations, and many landlords have their own fit-out rules.
Can the work be done while we stay open?
It depends on the work. Some jobs can be phased or done out of hours; others need the space closed for a period.
Who is responsible for fire safety after a refurbishment?
The responsible person, usually the employer, owner or occupier, must keep the fire risk assessment up to date, including after building work.
Do you give a warranty?
Yes. GONT LTD offers a 6-month warranty on its construction services. If an issue appears in that time, we come back and put it right.
How do I get a free quote?
Call +44 7783 930505 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), email info@gont.co.uk or use the form on this page. The consultation and quote are free.
Which areas of London do you cover?
We work across West London and Central London. Our showroom is in Fulham.
Are you insured and certified?
Yes. GONT LTD has public liability insurance, and our team holds NICEIC and F-Gas certifications.
Articles
Read before you start.
Free quote
Get a free quote for commercial refurbishment.
- +44 7783 930505Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm
- info@gont.co.ukEmail
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Prefer to talk it through? Contact us, call +44 7783 930505 or visit our showroom in Fulham. See all our services.