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Deansgate Square towers and cranes on the Manchester skyline

Construction Company in Manchester Your Manchester scheme checked for cost and buildability free, then designed and built to the date you are working to.

Our track record

100% of projects delivered ahead
of programme and on budget

What our clients get

  • 3 weeksto refurbish 750 sq m of Kensington offices, where other contractors quoted 12
  • 1,550 sq mwhole building converted in seven months around tenants in occupation
  • 0snags at handover, with every certificate in your file
  • £10Mpublic and employers’ liability cover, with ISO and CHAS accreditation your funder can check

Building in Manchester when funders want certainty

Deloitte's 2026 Manchester Crane Survey counts over 1.5 million sq ft of offices under construction. It also warns that development finance is now the bottleneck.

Lenders release money for schemes whose sum and programme they trust. Our preconstruction director checks your drawings free and flags the cost risks before you tender.

Then one team designs, builds and hands over, with most of the site labour our own. Our case studies are in London and Oxfordshire; none is in Manchester yet.

Send the drawings, or just the address and your target date. No drawings yet? A short brief is enough.

Red-brick canal warehouses beside the waterway in Manchester

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

Construction in Manchester, from first drawing to keys

Fitting out space rather than building it? See office fit out, commercial fit-out and refurbishment and restaurant and hotel fit-out.

Two engineers reviewing project drawings in a high-rise office

Pre-construction and two-stage tender

Cost plan, buildability and programme agreed before you sign, through a PCSA while the design still moves. Proof: led by our preconstruction director, 50+ years in construction.

Completed glass and steel office building in daylight

Design and build, turnkey

Design, approvals, construction and fit-out under one contract, ending with the keys to a working building. Proof: Kensington Olympia, 400 sq m, with Craftex as main contractor from conception to completion.

Red-brick industrial building with a chimney beside a lawn

Building conversions

Disused warehouses and tired offices taken back to the frame and rebuilt as homes or premium workspace. Proof: Portsoken House, a disused warehouse rebuilt as offices.

Aerial view of a large steel-framed warehouse building

Warehouses and logistics

Steel-framed units and distribution space, plus storage conversions, ready for racking when your operation needs them. Proof: at Banbury, welfare and racking went in while the warehouse kept running.

Mechanical pipework and valves in a plant room

Data centres and M&E

Data halls, UPS, cooling and the mechanical and electrical services behind every building we deliver. Proof: Hackney warehouse, 120 m² with power, heating, lighting, pumped drainage and fume extraction in four weeks.

Tower cranes lit at dusk above a building site

Project management for £5M+ schemes

Directors run programme, cost, approvals and handover on larger schemes, client-side or inside our contract. Proof: our Operations Director ran projects up to £135M in previous roles.

How it works

How a Manchester construction project runs

01

Free review

We read your drawings and brief, flag the cost and buildability risks, and recommend the right tender route.

02

Route and approvals

Single-stage on a finished design or two-stage under a PCSA, with planning conditions and building control mapped from the start.

03

Fixed sum and date

One contract sum and a programme built from real lead times. Any change is priced in writing before work starts.

04

Our teams on site

Our own trades build it, and phasing keeps occupied buildings working.

05

Certified handover

Tested, commissioned and signed off by building control, then handed over complete with no snags.

Black hardback guide for property investors and developers

The Craftex Guide to Investor and Developer Projects

Written for developers, landlords and owners: how a scheme moves from brief and cost plan to a certified building. It also lists what to ask any contractor before you sign.

Our promises

What we sign up to on every Manchester project

Written into the contract, kept to handover.

  1. One contract, one director

    Design and construction sit with one firm, so nothing falls between consultants and builders.

    Portsoken House, designed by our in-house team and built by us.

  2. The sum you sign holds

    Nothing is built until you approve its price in writing.

    Every project to date finished on budget.

  3. Your building keeps working

    Let floors, live schools and running systems stay in use while we build.

    Portsoken House Reception: rebuilt over nights and weekends, tenants undisturbed.

  4. Ready by your date

    About 60% of the labour is ours, so no week waits on another firm.

    Beaumont House, Kensington: 750 sq m refurbished in 3 weeks, where other quotes said 12.

  5. Insured to £10M

    Public and employers' liability of £10M each, professional indemnity on request. ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001, CHAS, SafeContractor and Constructionline.

  6. Finished means finished

    The snag list is closed before we leave, and the paperwork arrives with the keys.

    Zero-snag handovers on every project so far.

Sample quotation for a Manchester construction project with the total ringed

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

Send the tender return or quote you hold for your Manchester scheme. A director reads it line by line and tells you what he sees in it. A site survey comes before any figure of ours.

Compare your quotes

Why Manchester schemes run late, and what we do instead

Six places where a Manchester scheme loses time or money, each paired with how we avoid it.

AreaThe usual riskWith Craftex
Who answersArchitect, engineer and builder hired separately, and every defect turns into a dispute over whose drawing failed.One firm is responsible for design and build, so any problem is ours to solve.
The billA tender priced on half a design, followed by claims wherever the requirements were vague.Risks found and closed at pre-construction, before the contract sum is agreed.
The lenderDrawdowns held because the programme, contract or insurances do not satisfy the monitoring surveyor.A priced programme, a clear contract and £10M cover, ready for the funder's review.
OccupantsTenants or staff find out about the works when the drilling starts.Phasing, quiet hours and safe routes agreed with you before we mobilise.
ApprovalsConditions, building control and certificates left for the client to chase at the end.We run planning conditions and building control through to the completion certificate.
HandoverPractical completion with a defects list and warranties still to come.Keys on the day with O&M manuals, as-built drawings and the safety file together.

Construction cost in Manchester, 2026

Indicative build costs per m² from Laxton's Building Price Book 2026, ex VAT. These are national rates, with no London uplift added. Your own figure comes from the free review.

TypeWhat it covers£ per m²
Major refurbishmentStrip-out to the frame, new services, a standard commercial finish£1,000–1,650
Major refurbishment with air conditioningAs above, with a high-quality finish and comfort cooling£1,200–1,800
Commercial new build, low-riseOffices or similar built to let, naturally ventilated£1,900–2,400
Commercial new build, air-conditionedLow-rise, fully air-conditioned£2,400–2,750
High-specification new buildMulti-storey, owner-occupier standard, fully air-conditioned£2,900–3,300
Projects we take onFrom the free review to handover£100,000 to £10M+

Figures exclude VAT, land, professional and statutory fees, finance, loose furniture and abnormal ground. Older industrial buildings often bring structural and fire works that move the figure.

Dated 29 Oct 2026.

Free cost calculator

Estimate your Manchester build cost

Pick a building type and enter the floor area for a range based on 2026 guide prices.

Add
Your estimateEnter your spaceex VAT and fees Get a free pre-construction review

Indicative, ex VAT and fees, on national rates with no London factor. Ground, frame and facade move the figure most.

Our team

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Construction in Manchester: your questions

Do you build in Manchester if you are based in London?

Yes, we take on Manchester schemes, though we have not built there yet: our case studies are in London and Oxfordshire. A Manchester project would be run by the same senior team as our London work, with a dedicated site lead.

How long does planning permission take in Manchester?

The statutory target is 8 weeks from validation, or 13 weeks for a major application. Conditions, consultations and amendments often add time, so we build the planning period into your programme. MediaCityUK sits in Salford and Trafford Park in Trafford, each with its own planning team.

What is a two-stage tender?

The contractor joins early, under a paid pre-construction agreement, to shape the design, cost plan and programme with your team. The packages are then priced openly and the sum is fixed at stage two. Read how a pre-construction services agreement works before you choose.

How much does it cost to build in Manchester?

Roughly £1,000 per m² for a major refurbishment, up to £3,300 for a high-specification new build, ex VAT and fees. These are Laxton's 2026 national guide prices. We take on schemes worth £100,000 up to £10M and more.

Which parts of Greater Manchester and the North West do you cover?

All of Greater Manchester, from Spinningfields, NOMA and Ancoats to Salford, Trafford Park, Stockport, Bolton, Bury, Oldham and Wigan. We also cover Leeds, Chester, York and Birmingham.

Who approves building regulations in Manchester?

Building control at Manchester City Council, or a registered building control approver you appoint. Commercial work goes by a full plans application, which the council says it answers within 15 days. Salford and Trafford have their own teams, and higher-risk residential buildings go to the Building Safety Regulator.

Is design and build better than a traditional contract?

Design and build is better when you want one party answerable for everything and a fixed sum earlier. Traditional suits a client who wants the finished design in hand before pricing. Our guide to design and build vs traditional procurement sets out where each route fits.

How long does a construction project take?

Your completion date is fixed in the contract, not guessed from an average. As a guide, Portsoken House took seven months and Beaumont House three weeks. Allow time before site for design, planning and the tender.

What do I get from the free pre-construction review?

Our preconstruction director reads your drawings and brief, flags the cost and buildability risks, and recommends a tender route. There is no charge and no obligation to appoint us.

Can one contractor take my scheme from design to handover?

Yes. As a design and build main contractor we hold the design, the build and the approvals under one contract. If your design is still moving, start with our pre-construction services and fix the sum later.

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

Planning a build in Manchester?

Tell us the address, the scheme and the date you are working to. Our preconstruction director reviews it, and a director calls you back.

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

info@craftex.co.uk

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