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Crane over a wrapped brick building being rebuilt

Construction Company in Cambridge Your Cambridge drawings tested free for buildability and cost risk, then one team builds to the date you need.

Our track record

100% of our projects finished ahead
of programme and within budget

What our clients get

  • 60%of site labour employed directly by us, so no subcontract chain can stall your Cambridge programme
  • 3 weeksto refurbish 750 sq m of Kensington offices, where other contractors quoted 12
  • 1,550 m²of Aldgate warehouse converted to premium offices in seven months, other floors at work
  • 0open snags on handover day, and no certificate left for you to chase

Why Cambridge schemes need their risks found early

CoStar reports Cambridge lab leasing above 180,000 sq ft so far in 2026. Yet vacancy across the Oxford, Cambridge and London lab market has passed 25%. With that much space empty, a new scheme must show a cost and design that hold up.

Water is the second test. Government figures from March 2024 showed thousands of planned homes and offices here held up by supply concerns. New buildings must cut water use, and that belongs in the cost plan from day one.

Many construction companies in Cambridge price what they are handed. Our preconstruction director tests your drawings free and marks the risks before tender. After that, one firm designs and builds it, and our own people make up most of the site team.

Planning drawings, a consented scheme or only a site address and a brief: any of them is enough to begin.

Historic college buildings in central Cambridge under a blue sky

Trusted by leading businesses

  • Trainline
  • Auto Trader
  • YouTube
  • Medusa
  • Fuse
  • Drakes
  • PTOS
  • Close Connections
  • Marnie
  • Vortex Post
  • Minds Ahead
  • Missy
  • Fora
  • Gama Healthcare
  • Equinix
  • Hubble
  • B-Engineering

What we build for Cambridge clients, under one contract

Need space fitted out or a site appraised rather than a new building? See our pages on office fit out, commercial fit-out and refurbishment, and development feasibility.

Site team in hard hats checking work before the next stage

Buildability and two-stage tender

We test the design, the cost plan and the programme alongside your team, then fix the sum once the packages are priced. Proof: led by a preconstruction director with over 50 years in the industry.

Finished modern building facade against a clear sky

Design and build to the keys

Architecture, engineering, approvals and construction held by one firm, so you sign once and collect a working building. Proof: Portsoken House was designed in-house and built by us.

Old stone and brick buildings along a narrow Cambridge lane

Historic and whole-building conversions

Older buildings stripped back, strengthened and rebuilt as workspace or homes, with heritage limits mapped before design. Proof: Portsoken House, an empty warehouse reborn as offices.

Warehouse yard with stacked pallets and a secure fence

Warehouses and logistics units

Steel-framed sheds and trade units on the city's edge and along the A14, ready for racking when you need them. Proof: at Banbury our fit-out ran four weeks inside a working warehouse.

Tower cranes over a large development by the water

Project management, £5M and above

Client-side direction of cost, programme and approvals on larger Cambridge schemes, or built into our own contract. Proof: Joe Crawford, our Operations Director, led projects worth up to £135M before joining us.

How it works

How a Cambridge build runs, step by step

01

Free buildability check

Send drawings or a brief. Our preconstruction director marks the design and cost risks and names the tender route that suits.

02

Survey and conditions

We survey the site, then map planning conditions, water-saving measures and building control into the programme.

03

Sum and dated programme

After the survey you receive one contract sum and a dated programme. Every change is priced and agreed in writing first.

04

Our trades on site

Our own teams build it, and neighbours and occupants stay protected.

05

Signed-off handover

Commissioning, building control sign-off and a closed snag list, with the safety file, manuals and as-built drawings.

Craftex investor and developer guide, black hardback cover

The Craftex Guide to Investor and Developer Projects

A plain guide for Cambridge developers, landlords and owners. It follows a scheme from brief to certified building and lists the questions to put to every bidder.

Our promises

Six promises in every Cambridge contract

Signed on day one, still true on the day we hand over.

  1. One firm answers for it all

    Design and construction share one contract, so any gap between drawings and site is our problem.

    Kensington Olympia: main contractor from conception to completion, 400 sq m in 12 weeks.

  2. Your price is protected

    Nothing extra gets built until you have approved its cost in writing.

    All our projects to date came in on budget.

  3. Occupants carry on

    Let floors, live plant and working sites stay in use, with noisy work booked around them.

    Portsoken House kept its other floors let for seven months.

  4. Finished by your date

    Around 60% of site labour is employed by us, so the programme never waits on someone else's diary.

    Drake's, Savile Row: 120 m² flagship refitted in 12 weeks while it kept trading.

  5. Insured to £10M

    £10M public liability and £10M employers' liability, with professional indemnity on request. Accredited by CHAS, Constructionline and SafeContractor.

  6. Done means done

    No open snag list and nothing to chase: test results, manuals and the safety file arrive with the keys.

    Every handover so far closed with zero snags.

Example contractor quotation for a Cambridge office building, total circled in red

Already have a quote? Send it to us. We'll beat it.

Holding a tender return for your Cambridge scheme? Send it over, and a director checks every line and replies with the risks he finds. Our figure follows a survey.

Compare your quotes

Where Cambridge building projects slip, and how we stop it

Six points where a Cambridge scheme loses time or money, and the way we close each gap.

AreaThe usual riskWith Craftex
BlameDesigner and builder hired separately, so each defect starts an argument about whose drawing was wrong.One contract covers design and build, and fixing any fault is down to us.
CostA sum priced on half a design, then an extra for every gap in the brief.Gaps found and closed during the free check, before any sum is agreed.
TimingA programme that ignores long-lead plant and slips once suppliers miss their slots.Lead times for plant and services booked into the programme before we start.
NeighboursColleges, tenants or staff hear about the works on the first noisy morning.Hours, deliveries and site access set with you and your neighbours before day one.
ConditionsWater-saving and other planning conditions left open, so occupation waits on paperwork.Conditions, building control and certificates run by us through to final sign-off.
HandoverPractical completion with defects outstanding and warranties promised for later.Keys, O&M manuals, as-built drawings and the health and safety file on the same day.

What it costs to build in Cambridge, 2026

Guide figures per m² taken from Laxton's Building Price Book 2026, at national rates with no regional adjustment. Your own figure follows the free check and a site survey.

TypeWhat it covers£ per m²
Refurbishment to the frameBack to the structure, renewed services, standard commercial finishes£1,000–1,650
High-quality refurbishment with coolingBetter finishes, with comfort cooling added£1,200–1,800
Low-rise new build to letOffices or similar, naturally ventilated£1,900–2,400
Low-rise new build, cooledThe same building type, air-conditioned throughout£2,400–2,750
Owner-occupier multi-storeyHigh specification, air-conditioned, built for the occupier£2,900–3,300
Schemes we take onFrom the free buildability check to handover£100,000 to £10M+

Excludes VAT, land, professional fees, statutory fees, finance, loose furniture, abnormal ground and any water-offset costs. Listed buildings and conservation areas often add to the figure.

Dated 29 Oct 2026.

Free cost calculator

Work out a Cambridge build budget

Choose the type of building and its floor area to see a 2026 guide range.

Add
Your estimateEnter your spaceex VAT and fees Get a free buildability check

Guide only, ex VAT and fees, at national rates. Ground, frame, facade and water-saving measures move it most.

Our team

  • in

Building in Cambridge: questions clients ask us

Do you take on commercial building works in Cambridge?

Yes. Cambridge schemes are led by our senior London team, with a dedicated site lead and one point of contact. Our case studies are in London and Oxfordshire; none is in Cambridge yet.

Who signs off building regulations in Cambridge?

3C Shared Services runs council building control for Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire. You may appoint a registered building control approver instead. Blocks of flats of 18 m or seven storeys and up need the Building Safety Regulator.

Is design and build better than a traditional contract?

Choose it when you want a single firm to carry design risk and an agreed sum sooner. Traditional procurement fits clients who prefer to own a finished design before anyone prices it. Our comparison of design and build vs traditional procurement explains both.

How much does it cost to build in Cambridge?

Laxton's 2026 guide puts a major refurbishment at £1,000 to £1,650 per m², and a high-specification new build at £2,900 to £3,300. Both exclude VAT and fees. We take on schemes from £100,000 to £10M and above.

Which parts of Cambridgeshire do you cover?

The city and South Cambridgeshire, including Cambourne, Northstowe and Waterbeach, plus Ely, Huntingdon and St Neots. We also cover Oxford, Reading, Bristol and Winchester.

Who decides planning applications in Cambridge?

Greater Cambridge Shared Planning, the joint service of Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council. Most applications should be decided within 8 weeks, and major ones within 13. The same service offers pre-application advice.

Does the water shortage affect building in Cambridge?

It can. In March 2024 the government said water-supply worries had stopped over 9,000 homes and 300,000 m² of commercial space moving through planning. Schemes must use less water, and a pilot lets developers offset the rest with water credits.

How long does a construction project take?

Your completion date goes into the contract once the survey and design are done. For scale, our Aldgate warehouse conversion took seven months and a Banbury warehouse fit-out four weeks. Planning and the tender come before site work starts.

What does the free buildability check include?

You get our preconstruction director's view of your drawings or brief: the buildability problems, the cost risks and the tender route we would recommend. It costs nothing and commits you to nothing. A priced sum and programme follow our site survey.

Can one contractor run my scheme from design to handover?

Yes. We work as a design and build main contractor, so one contract covers the drawings, the construction and every approval. Where the design is still open, our pre-construction services come first and the sum is fixed after.

What our clients say

See all reviews on Google
  • Hired Craftex for our conversion project. We had to convert a 600m2 office into 8 apartments. Guys did an excellent job in terms of program efficiency and quality of the finishes which gave us a big upside to exit the project 2 months faster than other competitors’ timelines.

    Misha Levit

  • Great experience from start to finish. Communication was clear, the workmanship was excellent, and the whole project was managed professionally.

    Rhea Langford

  • I’d like to thank the team at Сraftex for the work they did on our office.
    It was really important for us to get the work done quickly, but without compromising on quality, as we regularly have clients and guests visiting and needed to move into the new office within a month.
    We spent around two weeks discussing and agreeing all the details before the work started. What I really appreciated was that everything we agreed beforehand was actually followed through during the job. The work was also completed on time.
    Thanks to the whole Сraftex team for a great job. I’d definitely use them again if we need any work done in the future.

    IURII PYLYPETS

  • We recently worked with Craftex and honestly couldn’t be happier with the results. From start to finish, the team was professional, reliable, and highly skilled. The quality of workmanship exceeded our expectations, and everything was completed on time and to a very high standard.
    Communication throughout the project was excellent, and they always went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied. It’s rare to find a construction company that combines professionalism, attention to detail, and great customer service so well.
    Without a doubt, Craftex is one of the best construction companies we have ever worked with. Highly recommended to anyone looking for quality and trustworthy builders.

    Adam Miah

  • Craftex has completed a range of both small and large-scale projects on our commercial property with exceptional precision and quality. Dmitriy consistently delivers courteous, prompt service and has shown great flexibility in accommodating last-minute changes to plans and timelines. I highly recommend Craftex for their professionalism and outstanding workmanship.

    Pascal Hunt

  • Great company to work with as always. Super flexible at dealing with evolving requirements and fast deployment and execution.

    Akshay Khanna

  • Hired Craftex to do the full design and fit out of my gym in Chelsea. Super efficient and fast team. They gave the best price and a proper fast track program. We managed to open in less than 6 weeks with no headaches or surprises during construction. Quality was great, we had zero snags on completion. I’ve worked with a few companies before but these guys really impressed me from project management to how they treat the client. Top GGs.

    Александр Хоменко

  • I worked perfectly with Sviat and Joe, with their architect they came up with a very smart design for our office to fit more desks and optimise the space to its maximum capacity. They also did excellent value engineering on the MEP design proposed by others, allowing us to save around £50K. The quality and speed were outstanding we finished two weeks ahead of schedule. Highly recommend these guys.

    John Smith

  • Happy with the end result. Tight timeline but they pulled it off. The team worked late shifts and even weekends to help us open the doors on schedule. Site was always left tidy at the end of the day and no surprise charges either. Good communication throughout. Would definitely use Craftex again.

    Pawel Kamionka

  • Highly recommended!
    Craftex are the kind of fit-out contractors in London you can truly trust. From the very first meeting, they understood our vision and gave practical ideas to make the most of our space. They turned our old storage area into a clean, efficient, and well-organized warehouse. The team was professional, easy to work with, and clearly took pride in their work.

    Monika Kamionka

  • We brought in Craftex to refurb our London office and honestly, they made the whole thing way easier than we expected. They listened, suggested ideas we wouldn’t have thought of, and explained everything clearly. Not the cheapest quote we got, but the end result shows why, the place looks modern, clean, and our team actually enjoys being here now. Communication was spot-on too. No chasing and confusion, deadlines were hit. If you want people who genuinely care and don’t treat your project like “another job,” I’d recommend them.

    A Google User

  • Sviat and his team at Craftex were brilliant to work with on our office redesign. From the first meeting, they took the time to understand how we actually use the space rather than just pitching generic solutions. They came back with clever, practical ideas to maximise use of the space and get more employees and desks inside . Every step was handled professionally, and the process felt surprisingly smooth for a project of this size. They finished one week ahead of schedule, and the transformation is clear — our office feels brighter, more functional, and much more welcoming. I’d happily recommend Craftex to anyone who wants a reliable design team that also makes the journey enjoyable.

    Cucu Iulian

  • We recently worked with Sviat and the Craftex team on a complete warehouse refurbishment, and the results have been outstanding. From the very beginning, their team was professional, organized, and attentive to every detail. The project was completed on time and within budget, without disrupting our day-to-day operations.

    Simone Racaku

  • My experience with Craftex was excellent from beginning to end. They took the time to really listen to what I wanted and then offered practical suggestions that made the design even better. I always felt like they cared about creating a space that worked for me, not just one that looked nice on paper. The end result is an office that feels stylish, welcoming, and very functional for day-to-day work. The process itself was straightforward, well-managed, and never stressful. I’d definitely recommend Craftex if you’re looking for office design and build services in London — they made the whole journey a positive one.

    Ion Bounegru

  • I’m really pleased with my experience working with Craftex. As a commercial construction firm, they handled everything from start to finish without any unnecessary stress on my side. What impressed me was how they suggested practical ideas that improved the design while also keeping things realistic. The communication was always clear, so I never felt out of the loop. The project ran smoothly, deadlines were met, and the end result is exactly what I was hoping for — a space that feels both functional and modern. It’s not easy finding contractors who are this reliable, but Craftex definitely proved they can be trusted.

    Taron Papoyan

  • I had an amazing experience working with Sviat and the Craftex team on our office fit-out in London. They were always professional, responsive, and quick to offer the best advice whenever decisions needed to be made. I really appreciated how they balanced style with practicality — the office doesn’t just look fantastic, it works perfectly for our team. Everything was done with care and attention to detail, and the project never felt overwhelming because they managed it so well. Communication was clear from start to finish, and I always felt involved in the process. I would happily recommend Craftex to anyone looking for a trustworthy contractor.

    Artur Dvorak

  • Craftex carried out a warehouse fit-out for us, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. The space has been completely transformed into a highly organized and efficient environment that makes our daily operations much smoother.
    The team was professional but also very approachable — I always felt comfortable asking questions or giving feedback. They came up with smart, practical solutions that worked perfectly for our setup, and everything was explained clearly along the way.
    The best part was how they stuck to the agreed timeline, finishing on schedule without cutting corners. It’s rare to get both quality and reliability, but Craftex delivered both.

    Roma Shchukin

  • We’re extremely happy with Sviat and the Craftex team’s work. They suggested clever ideas, managed the project efficiently, and delivered a functional, modern space. The team was easy to communicate with and very professional throughout the process!

    Polina Lysenko

  • I can honestly say our office has been completely transformed thanks to Craftex. From the very first meeting, the team was approachable, professional, and full of creative ideas that really made sense for our business. They didn’t just focus on how the space would look but also how it would work for the team day-to-day. The new layout is efficient, modern, and welcoming, and you can tell they really thought about the details. The whole process was smooth and surprisingly stress-free. They kept me updated at every stage, which gave me confidence. I’m really happy with the results and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

    Mykyta Khadzhynov

  • The results from Craftex’s commercial refurbishment in London are fantastic. The team was friendly, clear in communication, and made sure the project stayed on track. The workspace now feels efficient, welcoming, and modern. Definitely a team you can trust!

    Alaa Betar

  • We hired Craftex for a commercial ground floor fit-out with 2 flats above. There were some minor co-ordination hiccups with third-party suppliers but the team kept it moving. Finish quality was strong. Kitchens and doors look great. I have already asked them for a quote on the next project.

    Ben Edell

  • These guys actually deliver. They handled our first industrial to residential conversion near Tower Bridge, turned an old warehouse into 4 modern flats. They stuck to the plan, kept the site clean and the timing was on point. No hidden extras, no drama, just a professional construction company in London that gets the job done.

    Богдан Главацкий

  • We recently hired Craftex for a commercial office fit-out project in Central London, and overall, we’re really happy with the result. There was a delay on our side with a custom glass partition supplier, but the Craftex team managed the construction schedule very professionally and kept everything on track. Their guys worked clean, respected our workspace and IT setup, and kept the site tidy throughout. If you're looking for a reliable office refurbishment company in London, I’d definitely recommend Craftex. Would use them again without hesitation.

    Ardian Beleshi

  • This was a full high-end renovation of my Victorian rental apartment in Westminster, just off Sloane Square and Belgravia. The scope included full fit-out: electrics, plumbing, a new bespoke kitchen, and a luxury bathroom refurbishment. Craftex took care of everything and made the process easy. They weren’t the cheapest, but you can tell they really know what they’re doing when it comes to prime London property renovations.
    The team was professional, organised, and genuinely seemed to care about getting everything right. I was especially impressed with the quality of the finish – the attention to detail really shows in every corner.
    I’m very happy with the results and would definitely recommend Craftex to anyone looking for reliable, high-quality renovation work in Central London.

    Наталия Цимбалюк

  • I was stressed about timing since we had bookings lined up, but they smashed it. Even worked Saturday to finish the floor. My clients love the look — the beauty salon fit-out turned out exactly how I wanted. Couldn’t have pulled it off without their help. Genuinely appreciate the way they communicated throughout the refurbishment. If you need reliable help with beauty salon design or fit-out, especially in a place like Chelsea — these are the guys.

    Rami Jusupova

  • We used Craftex for a shop-to-flat conversion in Chelsea — turning an old retail space into two rental units. Access wasn’t the easiest, but the guys handled it well, no drama. Quote was clear, no hidden extras, and they actually stuck to it, which is rare. Finish came out solid, exactly what we needed for rentals. Joe (PM) kept things ticking and communication was always on point. All in all, smooth job — would use them again for sure.👍

    Apartify Estates

  • Fuse Energy hired Craftex on the fit-out and installation of our engineering and research centre, which included electrical, heating, lighting, plumbing, and ventilation upgrades. They delivered everything to a high standard and were proactive throughout — even working weekends to help speed up the programme, despite not being contracted to. They managed last-minute changes very well, communication was clear and consistent, and the team was professional from start to finish. We’d happily recommend Craftex to anyone needing a reliable construction partner.

    Hainro Eybers

  • Holistic therapy space fit-out
    Super impressed. I had a very specific vision for the studio. calm tones, soft lighting, hidden storage etc. the craftex team just got it. build was done quicker than I expected and the guys were polite, tidy and actually listened. we had 2 snags on day one but they fixed it before the week was out. worth it for the peace of mind.

    Dariia Shvyryda

  • Made a full refurbishment and redesign of our Central London office. Fantastic work, quality service and reliable people. Can recommend it to everybody

    Nikita Nigai

  • Amazing experience with these guys. I trusted them my apartment in London and Business. They are always accurate, very professional, responsive and neat. They would always advice me right things for my best interest. I had luxury experience with them and I would definitely recommend Craftex to everyone.

    Motush Motushev

  • Could not be HAPPIER with Sviat and the Craftex team, they certainly showed me that they’re the number one office design company in London that we’ve had the pleasure of working with. They gave us a unique design just like we wanted, and we loved the first initial draft of the concept. Also have to give them props for Construction, I gave them a tight timeline as we needed to move our team in ASAP, so they pulled double shifts and I didn’t see a drop in quality. Will be to talking to the team when we move up to our next bigger office. Highly recommended A+++

    Mikhail Burdoev

  • Very professional company. Craftex did brilliant minimalistic design and completely refurbished my apartment to the highest quality.

    Vlad

  • I and my husband are very satisfied with Craftex's service and customer support. We bought a house in Hampstead and wanted to redesign and renovate it. On our initial free consultation with Sviat, we found out that we actually can do loft conversion and rear extension and add value to the property straight away.
    We worked with the Craftex design team to bring our vision to life and deliver planning approvals. At that time guys started stripping out to save time on the construction programme as we wanted to move in ASAP.
    We worked with very experienced project director Konstantin who was responsible for all aspects of project delivery from design to construction with a very good eye on details and customer care.
    We saved a lot of money by having professional advice from the start. Project management and quality at Craftex are at the highest level. Many thanks to Craftex Team.

    Lia Lavryk

  • ISO 9001
  • ISO 14001
  • ISO 45001
  • CHAS
  • Constructionline Gold
  • SafeContractor
  • TrustMark
  • FMB
  • NICEIC
  • NAPIT
  • MCS
  • CSCS
  • Considerate Constructors
  • RICS, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
  • RIBA, Royal Institute of British Architects
  • ARB, Architects Registration Board
  • Public & Employers' Liability £10M
  • Professional Indemnity £10M
  • ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certified

Have a Cambridge scheme on the drawing board?

Send the site address, what you plan to build and when it must be ready. Our preconstruction director looks at it, then a director rings you back.

Unit 5, 160 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TR

info@craftex.co.uk

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