Case study — Tufnell Park, London N19
198 Brecknock Road
The brief
Seven new homes inside a conservation area. Built with the neighbours, the wildlife and the budget all intact.
A large-scale residential refurbishment and extension within the Tufnell Park Conservation Area: 5,000 ft² transformed into seven new flats over twelve months, from foundations to final finishes.
Scope of works
What we delivered
- Substructure to finishes - foundation works, steelwork and brickwork throughout.
- Seven new flats - partitioning, waterproofing, internal and external tiling, general fit-out.
- Green roof installation - over the new extension.
- Complete services renewal - new intake and foul-water services feeding 8 bathrooms and 7 kitchens.
The challenges
Inheriting another contractor’s problems
The project began in a tense atmosphere left by a previous contractor, including with the neighbours. Rebuilding that trust was as much part of the job as the brickwork.
One inherited defect kept returning, patio tiles that needed re-grouting every few months. Our investigation found the previous contractor had omitted the DITRA uncoupling mat entirely, letting water reach the underside of the tiles and crack the grout. We stripped the patio, installed the mat on a bonded undercoat, and re-laid the tiles with flexible adhesive and grout. The problem never came back.
All of this ran through the COVID-19 pandemic, when material prices and lead times changed weekly. The project still completed within budget.
The outcome
A conservation area, enhanced
The natural surroundings, home to protected local flora and fauna, shaped how every stage was sequenced, down to installing brick bird-nesting boxes for the local wildlife.
Practical completion was issued in November 2022: seven finished homes, a repaired reputation for the site among its neighbours, and a previous contractor’s mistake fixed for good.
Site foreman: K. Baranowski · Project director: Piotr Tarasek · Health & Safety: Izabela Tarasek · Up to 15 operatives on site.
On record
Project gallery
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