Kitchen and dining-room alterations · London
Open-Plan Kitchen Wall Removal
Create a wider connection between your kitchen and adjoining room. Growchance assesses the proposed opening and undertakes the appropriate wall-removal, structural and making-good work for the property.
Already have a survey, floor plan or kitchen design? Include it with your enquiry so we can review the proposed opening and required next steps.
Starting with your proposed layout
When this wall-removal service is suitable.
This service is intended for homeowners who want to connect a kitchen with an adjoining dining room, living room or other internal space.
You do not need to determine whether the wall is load-bearing before contacting us. Growchance reviews the proposed opening and available property information before confirming the appropriate route.
Creating a kitchen-dining connection
Widen an existing doorway or create a new opening between the kitchen and dining room to provide a more direct connection between the two spaces.
Opening the kitchen to a living space
Remove or alter an internal wall where the proposed layout connects the kitchen with an adjoining living area or another part of the ground floor.
Wall removal before kitchen installation
Complete the opening before a separately appointed kitchen company installs the cabinetry, worktops and appliances. Existing plans or kitchen drawings can be reviewed as part of the enquiry.
A wall-only structural alteration
Appoint Growchance for the wall removal, structural work where required and agreed making good without commissioning a complete kitchen renovation.
An existing survey, floor plan or kitchen design can help us understand the proposal, but the wall, opening, services and surrounding structure must still be considered together before the final work is confirmed.
Confirming the correct approach
The wall must be assessed before the work is defined.
Two openings may look similar but require very different work. The correct route depends on what the wall supports, the opening being proposed and the surrounding property structure.
Growchance reviews the available information and the property before confirming whether the project follows a non-load-bearing or structural pathway.
Internal wall removal
Where the wall is confirmed as non-load-bearing, the work can focus on controlled removal, any services within the wall and the agreed making good around the new opening.
- Review the proposed opening and wall construction
- Identify electrical, plumbing or heating services
- Remove the wall using the confirmed method
- Make good the agreed walls, ceiling and floor areas
Load-bearing wall alteration
If the wall supports part of the building, the opening must follow a property-specific structural design. Temporary support, permanent support and the applicable approval process must be coordinated with the removal work.
- Confirm the structural design for the proposed opening
- Plan temporary support and controlled demolition
- Install the specified permanent structural support
- Complete the agreed making good after the alteration
Wall-removal project scope
What the work can include.
Once the wall and proposed opening have been assessed, the required work can be defined around the actual structure and the condition of the surrounding rooms.
Growchance undertakes the agreed wall-removal work itself, including the structural installation where required and the specified making good. The confirmed quotation will identify exactly what is included.
Protection and preparation
Prepare the working area and protect the agreed access route, surrounding surfaces and retained parts of the kitchen or adjoining room.
Temporary support
Where the confirmed structural method requires it, install temporary support before altering or removing the load-bearing masonry.
Controlled wall removal
Form the agreed opening using a controlled sequence appropriate to the wall construction, retained structure and work taking place around it.
Permanent structural support
If the wall is load-bearing, install the beam, bearings, columns or other support specified in the property-specific structural design.
Waste removal
Remove demolition waste produced by the agreed work and leave the working area ready for the next confirmed stage of the project.
Making good
Complete the agreed repairs and finishing around the opening, including the relevant wall, ceiling, reveals and affected floor areas within the confirmed scope.
Structural design, approvals, service alterations, decoration, flooring and kitchen-related work are included only where they are stated in the agreed project specification and quotation.
What may be concealed
The wall may contain more than masonry or timber.
Kitchen and dining-room walls can contain electrical cables, sockets, pipework, heating connections or ventilation routes. These services must be considered before the wall is opened.
Available drawings and visible fittings provide useful information, but some conditions may only become clear during careful investigation or controlled opening-up.
Electrical services
Sockets, switches, cables and connected circuits may need to be isolated, removed or rerouted to suit the new opening and kitchen layout.
Water and waste pipes
Supply or waste pipework within the affected area may require an alternative route coordinated with the proposed sink, appliance and cabinetry positions.
Heating connections
Radiator pipework and other heating services must be identified where the opening affects an existing radiator, wall position or floor route.
Ventilation routes
Existing extract ducts or proposed kitchen ventilation may affect how the opening and surrounding ceiling or wall areas are planned.
Engineering and approvals
What may be required before removal begins.
The required design and approval route depends on the wall, the proposed opening and the legal status of the property. These matters should be established before structural work starts.
Structural engineering, Building Control and property-related consent are separate requirements. One approval does not automatically satisfy another.
Structural design
A load-bearing wall opening normally requires a property-specific structural design. The engineer considers the loads, opening, bearings, surrounding construction and suitable permanent support.
The resulting drawings and calculations define what must be installed rather than leaving the support arrangement to assumption on site.
Explore Structural AlterationsBuilding Control
Building Regulations will normally apply when an internal wall is removed or a new opening is formed. The correct application route and inspections should be established for the individual project.
Any applicable Building Control fees should be identified separately from the construction price unless the agreed quotation states otherwise.
Review Building Control FeesProperty and neighbour matters
Leasehold properties may require written consent from the freeholder or managing agent. Listed buildings and properties subject to other restrictions may require additional permission.
The Party Wall etc. Act may also need consideration where the design involves qualifying work to a shared party structure, such as forming a beam bearing within a party wall.
Read Official Party Wall GuidanceFrom enquiry to completed opening
How an open-plan wall-removal project progresses.
The sequence is shaped by the wall type, available information and approvals required for the property. Structural work does not begin until the appropriate design and project scope have been confirmed.
Where another company is providing the kitchen, the programme must also establish when the opening and surrounding preparation need to be ready for their installation.
Initial project information
Send the property address, photographs, approximate opening, room layout and any survey, structural or kitchen-design information already available.
Property assessment
Review the proposed opening, wall construction, surrounding structure, visible services, access and the work required in the adjoining rooms.
Design and approvals
Obtain the structural design and confirm Building Control, freeholder, Party Wall or other property requirements where they apply.
Protection and support
Prepare the working area and install the temporary support specified for the structural sequence where the confirmed design requires it.
Opening formed
Remove the agreed section of wall and install the specified permanent support where the opening is structural.
Making good and handover
Complete the agreed repairs and finishes around the opening, clear the work area and provide the relevant project information within the confirmed scope.
Cost and programme planning
What affects the price and timescale.
There is no reliable single price or programme for every kitchen wall removal. A simple non-load-bearing opening and a wide structural alteration involve different design, support, approval and finishing requirements.
A useful estimate therefore begins with the actual property, proposed opening and required finish rather than the wall length alone.
Cost factors
The construction price depends on the confirmed removal route and everything required to leave the opening ready for its next intended stage.
- Whether the wall is load-bearing or non-load-bearing
- Opening width, height and retained wall arrangement
- Specified beam, bearings, columns or other support
- Temporary support and demolition sequence
- Electrical, plumbing, heating or ventilation alterations
- Access, protection and waste-removal requirements
- Extent of plastering, flooring and decorative making good
- Engineering, approval and inspection costs where applicable
Programme factors
The site programme must reflect both the physical work and any information, approvals or inspections required before later stages can proceed.
- Availability of accurate plans and structural information
- Structural design and calculation lead time
- Building Control application and inspection arrangements
- Freeholder or Party Wall requirements where applicable
- Ordering and availability of the specified support
- Condition of the wall and surrounding structure
- Discovery and rerouting of concealed services
- Coordination with the kitchen supplier or installer
The dedicated cost guide explains the principal structural, engineering, approval and finishing factors that can affect a load-bearing wall-removal budget.
Cost and programme guidance is preliminary until the property, opening, structural route, services and required finishes have been assessed. Engineering, statutory and third-party fees are included only where stated in the project-specific quotation.
Beyond forming the opening
Making good connects the two rooms properly.
Removing the wall is only one part of the visible result. The reveals, ceiling junction, walls and affected floor areas around the new opening must be finished to the standard agreed for the next stage of the project.
- Boarding and plastering around the opening
- Finishing the beam enclosure where required
- Repairs to affected walls and ceiling areas
- Making good around relocated services
- Preparing affected floor junctions
- Decoration within the agreed project scope
“Making good” can mean anything from preparing the opening for another contractor to completing the surrounding plastering, decoration and floor repairs. The quotation should state the exact finishing boundary, especially where a kitchen installer or flooring contractor will continue the work.
Verified Growchance project · Deptford
From a load-bearing wall to one connected living space.
In this completed Deptford project, Growchance removed the load-bearing brick wall between the kitchen and dining room, installed the specified permanent support and continued through the connected renovation work.
- Location Deptford, South East London
- Wall Load-bearing brickwork
- Structural work Steel beam and concrete padstones
- Completed scope Plastering, floor tiling and kitchen installation
London homes and project access
The property affects how the opening is planned.
London properties vary in age, construction, tenure and access. Similar-looking layouts can contain different structures, services and approval requirements.
Assessment therefore considers the complete property context rather than treating every kitchen and dining-room wall as the same type of alteration.
Terraced and period houses
Original masonry layouts, later alterations, floor direction, chimney structures and party walls can all influence the assessment. The current structure must be checked rather than inferred only from the age or external appearance of the house.
Flats and leasehold homes
Internal alterations may require freeholder or managing-agent consent in addition to the appropriate construction and Building Control process. Access, shared areas and permitted working arrangements may also affect planning.
Occupied and restricted-access properties
Protection, dust control, material handling, waste removal and safe separation from occupied areas must reflect the actual access route and household arrangements. These requirements can influence both scope and programme.
Open-plan wall-removal enquiries across London.
Growchance considers suitable structural-alteration and renovation projects across London. Current coverage is assessed alongside the project scope, postcode, access, programme and availability.
- Central London
- North London
- East London
- South London
- West London
Area references describe general service coverage and do not represent a permanent local office in every borough. Send the property postcode and project information so current suitability and availability can be confirmed.
Open-plan wall-removal questions
Useful answers before the work begins.
Every wall and proposed opening must be considered in the context of the individual property. These answers explain the usual starting points before the final scope is confirmed.
Ask About Your Property01 Do I need to know whether the wall is load-bearing?
No. You can contact Growchance before the wall type has been confirmed. We review the wall, proposed opening and available property information before identifying the appropriate non-load-bearing or structural route.
02 Can I send an existing survey or structural report?
Yes. Send any survey, floor plan, structural report, calculation or drawing already available. The information can help establish what has been assessed, but the proposed opening and actual property conditions must still be reviewed before the work is confirmed.
03 Can Growchance remove only the wall?
Yes, where the agreed project is suitable. Growchance can undertake the wall removal, required structural installation and specified making good while a separate kitchen company handles the kitchen design, supply or installation.
04 Do I need a structural engineer?
A confirmed load-bearing alteration normally requires a property-specific structural design and calculations. A simple non-load-bearing removal may follow a different route. The need for engineering input should be established after the wall and opening have been assessed.
05 Is Building Control approval required?
Building Regulations will normally apply when an internal wall is removed or an opening is formed. The appropriate application, supporting information and inspection arrangements should be confirmed for the individual project.
See the Growchance Building Control fee guide for the small structural-alteration context.
06 Does removing an internal wall require planning permission?
Planning permission and Building Regulations are separate matters. Internal alterations do not always require planning permission, but listed-building status, previous permissions, property restrictions or a material external change can affect the position. The requirements should be checked for the specific property.
07 What happens if pipes or cables are inside the wall?
Affected electrical, plumbing, heating or ventilation services must be isolated and rerouted as required by the new opening and kitchen layout. Visible information is reviewed before work, but concealed conditions may require further assessment once safely exposed.
08 How long does kitchen wall removal take?
The programme depends on the wall type, structural design, opening size, approvals, service alterations, access and required finish. It should be confirmed only after those factors and any coordination with the kitchen installer have been reviewed.
09 What should I send for an initial assessment?
Send the London postcode, property type, photographs of both sides of the wall, approximate opening dimensions and a short description of the intended layout. Include any floor plans, surveys, structural information, kitchen drawings and preferred programme already available.
Discuss your proposed opening
Tell us about the wall and the space you want to create.
Share the available information and Growchance will review your enquiry. We can then discuss the likely assessment route, information still required and whether a site visit is the appropriate next step.
London postcode, property type and whether it is freehold, leasehold or listed, if known.
Which rooms the wall separates, approximate opening width and the layout you want to create.
Mention any photographs, floor plans, surveys, structural calculations, Building Control details or kitchen drawings available.
Tell us whether you require wall removal only, making good or a wider kitchen and room renovation.
An enquiry or initial discussion does not authorise structural work or create a contract. Final scope, availability, programme and price are confirmed separately.