A new kitchen installation replaces your old units, worktops and appliances with a new layout fitted to your room, including the plumbing, electrics, tiling and finishing needed to leave a complete, working kitchen.
Homeowners in Christchurch usually consider a new kitchen for one of a few reasons: something has worn out, the house no longer suits the way they live, or they are getting it ready to sell. We visit, agree a specification and put a fixed price in writing. Most jobs like this take 1–3 weeks on site, and we work across Dorset, including Bournemouth, New Milton and Poole.
- Guide price
- £8,200–£22,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 1–3 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- BH5, BH6, BH7 and BH23
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Bournemouth
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a new kitchen in Christchurch?
Below is a breakdown of typical costs for a new kitchen in Christchurch. Because rates in the South West are about 2% above the national guide, the overall guide comes to £8,200–£22,500, including VAT. Size, materials and access move the figure, and a free-of-charge survey settles it.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Christchurch |
|---|---|---|
| Value kitchen | Standard units and laminate worktops in a small or medium room, keeping the existing layout. | £5,100–£9,200 |
| Mid-range kitchen | Better units, some layout changes, built-in appliances and a choice of worktops. | £9,200–£20,500 |
| Premium kitchen | High-end units, stone worktops, an island and premium appliances in a larger room. | £20,500–£41,000 |
Expect these to shape the final quote:
- Length of units and the size of the room
- Unit range, door finish and worktop material
- Appliances, including built-in and premium models
- Tiling, flooring and any wall removal or replastering
What do you get?
- Measured survey and layout planning for your room
- Removal and disposal of the old kitchen
- Plumbing for sink, dishwasher and washing machine
- Electrics and new circuits by qualified electricians, with certificates
- Gas connections by a suitably registered engineer where needed
- Making good, extractor ducting and a final clean
What are homes like around Christchurch?
Dorset's older villages use Purbeck and Portland stone, chalk and flint, and thatch on cob or brick cottages. Bournemouth and Poole have Victorian and Edwardian villas, large interwar suburbs and plenty of bungalows and flats, while Weymouth, Dorchester and Bridport mix Georgian and Victorian streets with newer estates.
Salt spray and south-westerly winds affect coastal homes, so external finishes and fixings need to cope with marine exposure.
With that background in mind, here is how we typically handle a new kitchen for homes in Christchurch, from the first visit to the finished result.
Do you need permission in Christchurch?
Each UK nation sets its own consent rules, and Christchurch is in England. What follows is a plain summary; we check the specifics for your property with the council before pricing anything.
Internal work such as a new kitchen, bathroom, flooring, plastering or decorating does not need planning permission in England, unless the house is listed, when listed building consent may be needed even for internal changes.
Some internal work is covered by Building Regulations: new electrical circuits and work in bathrooms (Part P), new drainage, structural changes, extractor ventilation and any new window. Notifiable work is certified by a registered installer or by building control.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
A visit to your home
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for a new kitchen, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Quote in writing
We turn the survey notes into a written quote. The price is fixed for the specification we agree, and the document sets out materials, scope and payment stages in plain language.
Booking the work
Next comes planning the work itself. We set a start date that suits you, line up the right trades, and make sure any approvals for a new kitchen are in place before the first day on site.
On site to finish
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.
Working with SK Home Improvements
Questions about a new kitchen in Christchurch
Do I need planning permission in Christchurch?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Christchurch is in England, so England's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Can I move my sink or cooker to a new position?
Moving the sink, hob or cooker is usually possible but adds cost, because waste pipes, water supplies, gas and electrics have to be rerouted. Sinks need waste pipes to fall towards the drain, so the position of the outside wall matters. Hobs may need a new circuit or gas run and a suitable extractor route. We check what is practical during the survey and price each change separately.
How long will a new kitchen take?
On a typical home, allow 1–3 weeks on site. Larger projects, older buildings and extra work found once things are opened up can extend that, while simpler jobs may be shorter. Your quote includes an estimate of time on site, and your point of contact keeps you updated on the programme as the work progresses.
How long will I be without a kitchen?
You are usually without a working kitchen for one to two weeks, from strip-out until the sink and hob are reconnected. If stone worktops are being made to template, we can fit a temporary worktop so you can use the sink while you wait. Many people set up a microwave, kettle and fridge in another room. We plan the order of work to keep this period as short as possible.
What should I do to prepare for my kitchen fitting?
Before fitting starts, empty all cupboards and drawers, clear worktops and remove anything from the walls. Plan where you will make drinks and simple meals for a week or two, and agree where deliveries will be stored, as units take up a lot of space. Make sure we can access the stopcock, fuse board and gas meter. We confirm the delivery date and start date in advance.
Also covering areas around Christchurch
Coverage for Christchurch spans BH5, BH6, BH7 and BH23. Close by, Bournemouth, New Milton and Poole are covered too, and the rest of our UK-wide area follows the same survey-then-quote process from start to finish.