QUICK ANSWER: A full house renovation in Putney typically takes 4–8 months of construction, plus 2–4 months beforehand for design and planning — so 6 to 12 months start to finish is realistic for most projects. A single-storey rear extension runs 3–5 months on site; a loft conversion 6–10 weeks. The single biggest variable isn't the building work — it's whether the property sits inside one of Putney's conservation areas, which decides whether you need a full planning application or can move straight to build.
"How long will it take?" is the question every homeowner asks first and every builder answers most carefully — because the honest answer is "it depends," and nobody likes hearing that. So here's the version with actual numbers attached, and an explanation of what genuinely moves them, for a renovation in Putney specifically.
The Timeline, Stage by Stage
Design and drawings: 4–8 weeks. Before anything happens on site, you need measured drawings, a structural engineer's input where walls are coming out, and a specification detailed enough to price and build from. Rushing this stage is where most projects that go wrong, go wrong.
Planning: 8 weeks, if you need it. Wandsworth Borough Council works to the standard statutory target of 8 weeks from the point an application is validated. The crucial word is "if" — and in Putney, whether you need permission at all comes down to your specific street, which we'll come to.
Construction: the main event. A single-storey rear extension typically runs 3–5 months on site. A loft conversion, 6–10 weeks. A full house renovation, 4–8 months depending on scale, structural work, and specification. A basement pushes the whole thing considerably longer.
Snagging and handover: 1–2 weeks. The final walk-through, the small fixes, and the sign-off — quick, but worth not skipping.
The Putney-Specific Variable That Changes Everything
Here's what makes Putney genuinely different from a blanket "London renovation timeline": whether you need planning permission at all depends heavily on which street you're on.
Putney sits within the London Borough of Wandsworth, one of the most actively renovated boroughs in London — but its conservation area coverage is patchy rather than total. The riverside around Putney Embankment, the Victorian villas of West Putney, and Putney Lower Common all sit inside conservation areas, several carrying Article 4 directions that remove permitted development rights. On those streets, a side extension, a two-storey rear addition, or a rear dormer all need a full planning application, adding that 8-week planning stage to your timeline.
But much of Putney's terraced grid and the 1930s streets toward Roehampton sit outside the conservation areas, where standard permitted development rights still apply — including the larger 6-metre rear extension route via prior approval, which runs on a faster 42-day track rather than the full 8 weeks. On those streets, a well-scoped extension can start on site considerably sooner.
The practical takeaway: two identical Victorian houses a few streets apart in Putney can have renovation timelines that differ by two months, purely on planning status. Confirming which side of that line your property falls on, before design work begins, is the single most useful thing you can do to keep the project moving.
The Delays Nobody Warns You About
- Party wall agreements, which most Putney terraces trigger, can add weeks if left until construction is meant to start rather than sorted in parallel with planning
- Long-lead materials — bespoke glazing, stone, and certain kitchen elements can carry 8–12 week lead times that need ordering early, not mid-build
- Unexpected structural conditions in a period property, which only reveal themselves once floors come up and walls open — the reason a sensible contractor builds contingency into both the budget and the programme
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a full house renovation take in Putney? Typically 4–8 months of construction, plus 2–4 months beforehand for design and planning — so 6 to 12 months start to finish for most projects, longer where a basement or extensive structural work is involved.
Does planning permission always add to the timeline? Only if you need it. On Putney streets outside a conservation area, many projects proceed under permitted development with no planning stage at all; inside a conservation area, the 8-week application stage applies to most external work.
Can I speed up a renovation? The most effective way is front-loading the slow parts — confirming planning status early, ordering long-lead materials in advance, and sorting party wall agreements in parallel rather than in sequence. Rushing the build itself rarely saves time and usually costs quality.
Planning a Renovation in Putney?
Dominant Construction has delivered renovations, extensions, and loft conversions across Putney and South West London for over 15 years — FMB-registered, working to JCT contracts, with a realistic programme agreed up front rather than an optimistic one that slips.
Call 020 7118 6155 for a consultation, get in touch online, or see recent projects at dominantconstruction.co.uk.