PB
PlanBuild07700 195744

Poole & DorsetRenovationsKnock-throughsOpen-plan

Clarity for yourhome renovation.

A clear, step-by-step approach. One point of contact from first ideas to final build.

Get renovation advice

✓ Usually back within 30 min✓ Same person who answers the phone✓ No obligation

Or call 07700 195744
  • 5.0on Google
  • Fully insured
  • Building Control approved
  • Poole since 2017

Project-managed · Four stages

  1. 01DesignSurvey & drawings
  2. 02PlanningPermission & approvals
  3. 03Building ControlEngineering & sign-off
  4. 04BuildProject-managed on site

Opening up a kitchen, reconfiguring the downstairs, taking out a load-bearing wall — renovations and internal alterations are what we do. We project-manage the full package: survey, drawings, planning, Building Control, builder appointment and on-site delivery. One accountable contact from first call to final handover.

5.0 / 5

Google rating

15 min

Free discovery call

No obligation

Point cloud

3D laser surveys

Millimetre-accurate, every project

£5m

Public liability cover

Fully insured

Start your project

You’re in the right place.

You’ve got the idea — a bigger kitchen, an open-plan downstairs, a wall you’ve pictured coming down for years. What comes next is usually a pile of questions:

  • “Who do I speak to first?”
  • “What’s the actual first step?”
  • “Does my project need planning permission?”
  • “Do I need Building Control?”
  • “Which certificates do I end up with at the end?”
  • “Who keeps the whole thing compliant?”

That’s exactly what we clear up on the 15-minute call. Drop a few details below — we’ll be back within 30 minutes. No quote, no pressure.

Start the project flow

Invite PlanBuild onto your project.

If you have received a letter, have planning in motion, or want a controlled route before builders price the job, start here. This form puts your details straight into our project system.

✓ Planning and feasibility check before you commit to build costs
✓ 3D scan / point-cloud survey so the project starts from real measurements
✓ Digital drawing, engineering and building-control pack for clear pricing
✓ Shared project sheet so actions, costs and next steps do not disappear
  1. 1Fill in the project invite form
  2. 2Your details land in our PlanBuild project flow
  3. 3We review the planning position and digital-tool fit
  4. 4You get the right next step: design, scan, pricing or build route

What we do

We’re the bit between your idea and the finished room.

Design. Structural engineering. Building Control. Build. Four disciplines a structural alteration needs, all orchestrated from one team. Your idea goes in one end; a finished room with every certificate it needs comes out the other. The six below are the shapes we run that across, week in and week out.

knockthroughKT

Knock-throughs

Remove internal walls to open up your ground floor. We survey, design, calculate and install.

rsjRSJ

RSJ / steel beam installation

Correctly sized steel beams with padstones, installed to structural engineer specifications.

openplanOP

Open-plan kitchen alterations

Kitchen-to-dining or kitchen-to-living knock-throughs with full structural support.

layoutLAY

Internal structural layout changes

Reconfigure your internal layout. Load-bearing wall assessments, new openings, repositioned doorways.

calcsCALC

Structural calculations & drawings

Beam sizing, padstone details, lintel schedules and full structural engineering drawings.

bcBC

Building control support

We handle the building control application and manage inspections through to sign-off.

layoutLAY

Making good

Plaster, flooring edges and decorative finishing after the steel is in. We leave the space ready to use — not a building site.

Projects that probably sound like yours

Yours is probably one of these.

Nine times out of ten, the structural job on your mind falls into one of these patterns. Have a look — it’ll help the call go faster.

Open-plan kitchen-diner after a load-bearing wall removalMost common

Kitchen–diner knock-through

Joining the kitchen and dining room with a single load-bearing opening. Steel beam, pad foundations, full making good.

Price it up
Full ground-floor open-plan conversionBigger job

Full ground-floor open plan

Multiple walls out — kitchen, dining and living joined into one space. Main beam plus secondary openings, often with Velux roof lights over.

Price it up
Side-return extension joining kitchen and gardenVictorian / Edwardian

Side-return widening

Extending into the side-return gap and removing the kitchen side wall in one go. Common in BH, Poole and Bournemouth terraces.

Reconfigured first-floor bedroom layoutUpstairs

Bedroom reconfiguration

Two small bedrooms into one primary suite, or carving an en-suite and walk-in out of a bigger room. Non-load-bearing and load-bearing variants.

Alcove living space after chimney breast removalPeriod property

Chimney breast removal

Removing a chimney breast on one or both floors. Needs proper support at high level, Building Control sign-off, and party wall consent if shared.

Loft conversion with reworked first-floor layoutAdding space

Loft conversion with internal changes

Rear dormer or hip-to-gable with the first-floor layout reworked underneath. We coordinate the party wall, Building Control and structural calcs together.

Not sure which one you are? That’s what the 15-minute call is for.

Josh Carrivick, founder of PlanBuild

Not sure if your project is a conversation with us?

Fifteen minutes on the phone and you’ll know. Tell us what you’re planning — we’ll tell you what it actually involves, what realistic timing looks like, and whether we’re a fit. Back within 30 minutes.

Get renovation adviceOr call 07700 195744

How we run it

By the time a builder’s in your house, here’s what you’ll already have.

An accurate 3D scan of your property. Engineered drawings signed off by a structural engineer. A Building Control strategy already scoped. A fixed build quote tied to every line of the drawings. The decisions that cost £10k to fix on site cost nothing to fix here, on paper.

1Start here

Design & ApprovalsGet the answer before site money is spent

Every £10k decision on site started as a £0 decision on paper. Beam sizing, padstone spec, Building Control detail, how the opening meets the floor — hundreds of projects have taught us exactly where the answers sit. The design stage is where we work those answers out, on a screen, before anyone’s standing in your kitchen holding a drill.

  • We confirm what you want to change and what is likely carrying load.
  • We map the survey, drawing, engineering and approval route.
  • We flag planning, Building Control and party-wall risks before pricing.

Typically: Usually 1–2 weeks from first survey to design route

Then, when you're ready

  1. 2

    Planning / Building Control Route

    Choose the clean approval path

    • We confirm whether planning, lawful development or Building Regulations only applies.
    • The engineer's requirements are built into the drawings before build pricing.
    • Building Control is prepared around what will actually be inspected on site.

    Timeframe: Usually 2–5 working days after survey information is complete

  2. 3

    Installation

    Steel in, wall down, room made good

    • We sequence the structural work around access, protection and inspection points.
    • The steel and padstones are installed to the engineer's design.
    • Openings are made good so the room is ready for the next trade or finish.

    Timeframe: Most wall-removal installs run 1–3 weeks depending on complexity

  3. 4

    Sign-off

    Certificates and project record closed out

    • We keep the inspection trail together instead of leaving certificates scattered.
    • Any snags or evidence requests are closed before handover.
    • You receive the drawings, calculations and completion record for resale.

    Timeframe: Closed as soon as Building Control completes the final inspection

What happens when

From “first call” to “moving the furniture back”.

Rough ranges. Every project’s different — but this is how most of ours play out.

  1. 1

    Week 0

    The call

    15 minutes on the phone. We agree whether there's a project, what shape it takes, and what a realistic scope + timeline looks like.

  2. 2

    Weeks 1–2

    Survey + design

    We visit the property, run a millimetre-accurate 3D scan, and draft the design. You see drawings that match what your house is actually like.

  3. 3

    Weeks 3–5

    Engineering + approvals

    Structural calculations signed off by our engineer. Building Control application submitted. Party wall notices served if your job needs them.

  4. 4

    Weeks 6–7

    Build quote

    Fixed-price build quote, itemised line by line, tied to the drawings. No vague allowances, no lump-sum surprises.

  5. 5

    Weeks 8–14

    On site

    The build itself. 2–4 weeks for a single knock-through, 4–8 weeks for a bigger open-plan conversion. Weekly updates, no fortnight silences.

Need it faster? Say so on the call. Priority turnaround available on most stages.

What our customers say

Real Google reviews

5.0 / 5 on Google

“Josh is very knowledgeable and offered lots of ideas in planning our extension. Paperwork and communication was punctual and always well documented. His team were a pleasure to have in the house, they were very clean, tidy and respectful to our (and our neighbours) property. I would not hesitate to recommend this company, they can do everything from start to finish for you.”
Sandra W.Apr 2026
“Called Josh in to draw up some plans and come up with some ideas for a small extension. Josh was prompt in getting in touch and carried out layout drawings for a very reasonable amount. Josh also gave us a budget price to carry out the works.”
Lee B.Aug 2024
“I couldn't recommend Josh enough! He has been absolutely fantastic, nothing was too much trouble, he was happy to bounce lots of ideas back and forth until we were happy. He is polite, friendly and professional in every aspect. I would definitely be using his services again in the future when needed.”
Kirsty H.Jan 2024
“Josh got the plans for our extension completed and submitted very quickly. We had a number of amendments and obstacles to overcome but nothing was too much trouble for him. A very professional and efficient service.”
Lester M.Feb 2021
Josh Carrivick, founder of PlanBuild

If that sounds like what you’re looking for…

Every project above started with the same 15-minute call. Tell us what you’re planning — we’ll tell you what it needs. Back within 30 minutes.

Get renovation adviceOr call 07700 195744

Why PlanBuild

Your project will change.
Good. Most of them do.

Every renovation has a change moment — a council detail, a layout rethink, something uncovered in demolition. With separate consultants, every change means paying three people twice to redraw, re-calc, re-quote. With us, it’s one conversation across the room. Your plan adjusts. Your team doesn’t restart.

  1. 01

    Budgets shift

    Materials move. Priorities change. We reshape the project against the new number — not restart the conversation.

  2. 02

    Neighbours push back

    Party wall notices, objections, unhelpful replies. We handle the back-and-forth so you’re not stuck negotiating.

  3. 03

    You change your mind

    Ideas evolve once drawings are on paper. Because we carry the brief, new thinking lands on the existing plan — not a fresh re-brief.

  4. 04

    Life gets in the way

    Illness, family, work. The project pauses cleanly and picks up again without you having to re-explain where you got to.

Working with us

What happens in the first month.

The biggest worry most homeowners have isn’t the cost — it’s the unknowns. Here’s exactly what the first four weeks look like, from the moment you pick up the phone.

  1. 1

    Day 0

    The 15-minute call

    You tell us what you're thinking. We ask the questions that shape the brief. By the end of the call you know whether we're a fit and what a realistic scope looks like.

  2. 2

    Within a week

    Site visit + 3D survey

    We visit the property, walk the space with you, and capture a millimetre-accurate 3D scan. You get a verbal summary before we leave.

  3. 3

    Day 10–14

    Draft drawings land

    Floor plans drawn from your real house, not a generic template. We walk you through them — redline whatever doesn't feel right.

  4. 4

    Day 15–21

    Structural + Building Control scoping

    Engineer reviews the drawings, sizes the beams, specifies the foundations. Building Control strategy agreed. We flag anything tricky early.

  5. 5

    End of month 1

    Fixed build quote

    Line-by-line build quote tied to the drawings. No lump sums, no vague allowances. You know exactly what you're paying for before you commit.

No surprises. No silences. If something changes, you hear about it the same day — not three weeks later.

Before you start

Common questions

How much does a typical wall removal cost?+

Most internal wall removals with a steel beam — including survey, drawings, engineering, Building Control and installation — fall between £6,500 and £9,500 inclusive of VAT. Larger openings or multiple walls run £9,000–£14,000. Combined extension and knock-through work typically runs £12,000–£18,000. You'll get a fixed price at the end of the free discovery call and site visit.

Does my job need planning permission?+

For most internal wall removals and kitchen knock-throughs, no. These are usually covered under Building Regulations only. Rear extensions within Permitted Development don't need planning permission either — they need a Certificate of Lawfulness if you want council confirmation on paper. We'll tell you which route applies on the free discovery call.

Do I need structural calculations?+

If you are removing or altering a load-bearing wall, yes. A structural engineer must design the replacement support — typically a steel beam (RSJ) with padstones. We handle this as part of the package.

Do I need building control for removing an internal wall?+

Yes. Any structural alteration requires a building control application. The inspector will check the steelwork before it is covered up. We manage the full process from application to sign-off.

Can you install the steel as well?+

Yes. We provide the full package — survey, plans, engineering, building control and installation. You do not need to find a separate contractor.

Can you help with kitchen knock-throughs?+

Absolutely. Kitchen-to-dining and kitchen-to-living knock-throughs are our most common job. We assess the wall, design the opening, install the steel and make good.

What happens at the survey?+

We measure the rooms either side of the wall, check the wall construction, look at what is above and confirm whether the wall is load-bearing. The visit takes around 30 to 45 minutes.

How quickly can you provide plans and calculations?+

Floor plans are typically delivered within 5 working days of the survey. Structural calculations follow within 5 working days after that. If you need it faster, ask about our priority service.

How long does a typical project take, start to finish?+

Most projects run 6–8 weeks from first call to completion. Design and approvals typically takes 2–4 weeks. Installation on site is usually 1–3 weeks depending on complexity. We'll give you a clear schedule before work starts.

What if the project goes over budget?+

The price we quote is fixed. Once we've surveyed the property and specified the steelwork, the number we give you is the number you pay — unless you change the scope mid-project. We tell you clearly what's included and what isn't before you commit.

What if planning or Building Control is refused?+

Building Control refusals are rare for internal alterations. If there's an issue, we redesign and resubmit at no extra cost. For planning, we assess your chances before we start — if permission is uncertain, we'll tell you upfront and explain your options.

Do I need to worry about party wall agreements?+

If your wall removal affects a wall shared with your neighbour, you may need to serve a Party Wall Notice. We flag this early, explain your options (agreed surveyor vs separate surveyors), and handle the back-and-forth so you're not stuck negotiating. If the wall is wholly within your property, there's no party wall issue.

Can I take the drawings to another builder?+

Yes. The drawings are yours. If you decide mid-project to go elsewhere for the build, we'll invoice for the design and engineering work completed and hand everything over. Most customers stay with us because we've engineered the work and warrant the installation, but you're not locked in.

Can you help me if I want to DIY the finishing work?+

Yes. We do the structural part — the wall removal, steel installation and making good. Plenty of our customers handle the finishing (tiling, flooring, decorating) themselves or through their own trades. If you get stuck with anything non-structural, we're happy to take a call and talk you through it. We'd rather you got a good result than struggled alone.

Where we work

If you’re in Dorset, we’re round the corner.

Based in Poole, working across Dorset and the New Forest. We cover the full BH postcode range and a decent chunk of DT and SP. Not sure if you’re in patch? Ask on the call.

BH1–BH25DT1–DT4SP1–SP5

Towns we work in

  • Poole
  • Bournemouth
  • Christchurch
  • Wimborne
  • Wareham
  • New Forest
  • Salisbury
  • Dorchester
  • Weymouth
  • Ferndown
  • Ringwood
  • Blandford
  • Swanage
  • Verwood
Map of our coverage area across Dorset and surrounds
Office: Poole · BH15

Read before you call

Answers to questions you’ve probably already googled.

All guides

Still scrolling?

If you've got this far, pick up the phone. Fifteen minutes, no quote, no pressure. Tell us what you're planning — we'll tell you what we'd do, how long it would take, and whether we're a fit. Back within 30 minutes of your details landing.

Get renovation advice

✓ Same-day response✓ 15-min discovery call✓ No obligation

Or call 07700 195744

Serving Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wimborne, Wareham and the wider Dorset area.