London · N1
Refurbishment & Design-Build Contractor in Islington
Islington combines Georgian squares in Canonbury and Barnsbury, Victorian terraces, offices around Angel and a busy restaurant scene on Upper Street. We work on both residential refurbishments and commercial fit-outs here.
We are a London-based design and build contractor, founded in 2016, with our office on Buckingham Palace Road. One team takes your project from survey, design and consents through construction to handover — with around 70% direct labour, ISO and CHAS accreditation, a 4.9★ Google rating and every project to date delivered on budget and ahead of programme.
- 2016 founded in London
- 4.9★ Google rating
- ~70% direct labour
- ISO · CHAS accredited
What we build in Islington
We only offer services in Islington that suit its buildings and market. These are the projects we are asked for most here:
Prime residential refurbishment
Prime residential refurbishments in Islington: whole-house and apartment refurbishments, structural alterations, extensions, M&E renewal, bespoke joinery and high-end finishes, managed discreetly with neighbours in mind.
Office fit-out
Cat A and Cat B office fit-outs and refurbishments in Islington: layouts, partitions, ceilings, lighting, M&E, data cabling, kitchens, meeting rooms and furniture, delivered around your lease dates. We work to landlord fit-out guides and schedule noisy work out of hours when the building is occupied.
Restaurant, bar & hotel fit-out
Restaurant, bar, café and hotel fit-outs in Islington: kitchens and extraction, bars, dining rooms, guest rooms, washrooms and back-of-house, planned around licensing, neighbours and your opening date.
High-end interior design
Interior design in Islington by our in-house team: space planning, joinery design, lighting, materials and finishes, carried through to delivery so the finished home matches the drawings.
Planning consultancy & permission
Planning consultancy for Islington: pre-application advice, planning and listed building consent applications to London Borough of Islington, and the drawings and reports that go with them.
Planning, consents and site rules in Islington
Local authority: London Borough of Islington. Before any design is fixed we check the planning and ownership position for your address, because in Islington this decides what is possible and how long it takes:
- Islington has many conservation areas, with detailed design guidance for terraces and squares.
- Offices and studios around Angel and the City fringe often involve occupied-building fit-outs.
- Upper Street hospitality units need extraction, licensing and neighbour considerations.
We prepare the drawings and statements, submit the applications and build the approval time into your programme — so construction starts on a date you can rely on.
Craftex projects near Islington
Planning a project in Islington? Send us the address and a few photos — we will tell you what is realistic, what consents you need and what it is likely to cost.
Talk to our teamWhat our projects actually cost
Most contractors avoid numbers. These are real Craftex projects — total value, size and time on site — so you can benchmark your budget. Your cost will depend on condition, specification, consents and access; we confirm it in a unit-by-unit cost plan.
| Project | Scope | Value | Size | Time on site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsoken House, Aldgate | Warehouse-to-office conversion, full M&E | £2.2M | 1,550 sq m | 7 months |
| Beaumont House, Kensington | Office refurbishment, open-plan + meeting rooms | £350K | 750 sq m | 3 weeks |
| Drake's, Savile Row | Flagship retail refit, live trading | £410K | 120 sq m | 12 weeks |
| Medusa, Knightsbridge | Turnkey spa & clinic, four floors | £460K | 180 sq m | 17 weeks |
| Banbury Warehouse | Fit-out inside a live warehouse | £380K | 148 sq m | 4 weeks |
How a Islington project runs with Craftex
- Site visit and brief. We survey the building, check services and access, and confirm planning, listing and landlord or estate constraints.
- Feasibility & Costing Study. Design options, consents route, a detailed unit-by-unit cost plan and a realistic programme.
- Design and consents. Our in-house team completes the design and manages applications and licences.
- Construction. One project manager runs every trade, with around 70% direct labour.
- Handover. Snag-free handover, documentation and aftercare.
Questions about building in Islington
Do you fit out offices in Islington?
Yes. We deliver Cat A and Cat B office fit-outs; at Portsoken House on the City fringe we delivered £2.2M of offices around occupied tenants.
Can you refurbish a Georgian house in Islington?
Yes, within the conservation area and listed building rules where they apply.
How much does a project in Islington cost?
It depends on scope, condition, specification and access, so we don't publish a price per square foot without seeing the building. As a reference, the table above shows what recent Craftex projects actually cost. Our Feasibility & Costing Study gives you a detailed, unit-by-unit cost plan before you commit.
How long will my Islington project take?
Programme depends on size, consents and whether the building stays occupied. Our projects have ranged from three weeks for a 750 sq m office refurbishment to seven months for a £2.2M conversion. We give a realistic programme with the cost plan, and every project we have delivered so far has finished ahead of programme.
Who handles consents with London Borough of Islington?
We do. Our design and planning team prepares drawings, applications and method statements, and manages planning, listed building consent, building control and landlord or estate licences alongside the build programme.
Do you use subcontractors?
Around 70% of our labour is direct, and one Craftex project manager controls every trade. That gives you one accountable team, consistent quality and no gaps between designer and builder.
What is the minimum project size you take on?
We typically take on projects from around £100k, from single floors and units to whole buildings.
How do I start?
Send us the address, a short description and any drawings or photos. We arrange a site visit, then prepare a Feasibility & Costing Study with design options, consents, a cost plan and a programme for your Islington project.
Nearby areas we cover
Start your Islington project
Tell us about the building and what you want to achieve.
Get a free consultation info@craftex.co.ukand we will be in touch to discuss your project