New Malden Architects
If you're looking for an architect in New Malden, you're likely considering a substantial extension, completely remodelling your home, or making major changes to a KT3 property that no longer gives you the space or layout you need.
There is a lot to consider, and a lot at stake.
I'm Jonathan Woodcock, a RIBA Chartered Architect working in New Malden and across Kingston and south-west London, helping homeowners and developers turn their plans and ideas into well-designed, buildable spaces with clear guidance from the first sketch through to the final handover.
I Understand How Much Rides On Getting A Project Like This Right
Making significant changes to your New Malden home is a serious commitment. You may already know that you need more space or that the existing layout is no longer working, while still being unsure whether an extension, loft conversion or more complete remodel will give you the best result.
Are you wrestling with any of the following?
- What the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames will and won't permit on your property
- How to create more space without leaving the existing rooms feeling disconnected from the new extension
- Whether a rear or side extension alone will solve the problem or the ground floor needs to be reorganised too
- Whether a loft conversion can provide the extra bedroom, bathroom or workspace your family needs
- How neighbouring homes, daylight, privacy and overlooking could influence what you can build
- Whether conservation-area or Local Area of Special Character controls affect your particular New Malden property
- Whether the architect you appoint will stay involved once planning permission is granted
If any of these resonate, I can help. My work starts by answering the important questions early, so the decisions that follow are made with confidence rather than guesswork.
The First-Sketch-To-Finished-Build Approach
When you work with the right architect, you gain confidence in the project, the process becomes easier to navigate and the finished home has a much better chance of becoming what you originally hoped for.
That is how I work with you. My background spans architectural design and construction, so I bring together the creative, planning and practical sides of a New Malden project from the beginning.
That can mean finding the right way to extend a family home, deciding whether several existing rooms should be reorganised at the same time, making better use of the roof space or understanding how the character of your street and neighbouring properties should influence the design.
As a RIBA Chartered Architect, I can guide you through all seven stages of the RIBA Plan of Work, from feasibility and the first sketches through planning, technical design, contractor selection and completion on site.
Composition Design Architectural Services In New Malden
Composition Design provides architectural services for homeowners, developers and businesses in New Malden. I can help at the beginning when you are trying to understand what is possible, or stay involved throughout the complete design and construction process.
- House extensions
- Kitchen & family extensions
- Whole-house refurbishments
- Internal remodelling
- Loft conversions
- Basement conversions
- New build homes
- Replacement dwellings
- Period property restoration
- Planning applications
- Feasibility studies
- Building regulations & construction drawings
Not sure which best describes your project? Tell me what you would like your property to become and I will advise on the most sensible way to get there.
Architecture For Every Kind Of New Malden Property
Composition Design works across residential, commercial and heritage architecture, from family homes and substantial refurbishments to business premises and older properties where existing character needs to be considered carefully.
Residential Architecture
Residential architecture in New Malden includes extensions, whole-house refurbishments, loft and basement conversions, replacement dwellings and new homes. Each project is designed around how you want to live and how the existing property, garden and available space can best support that.
Commercial Architecture
Composition Design provides commercial architecture for workplaces, commercial premises and mixed-use projects in and around New Malden. Commercial projects are designed around how the building needs to operate, its users, the site and the planning requirements relevant to the proposed use.
Listed & Period Buildings
Composition Design works with listed buildings and period properties where existing architectural character needs to be balanced with modern use. The building is understood first so any restoration, alteration or extension has a clear relationship with the elements that are worth preserving.
Localised Design For New Malden Properties
If you are planning major work to a New Malden home, your exact address can make a real difference to the way the project should be approached.
The Groves is one of New Malden's conservation areas. Its residential streets were originally laid out in the nineteenth century and developed gradually, leaving an established mix of homes, mature gardens and individual architectural details. If your property is within The Groves, those characteristics become part of the context for an extension or major alteration.
Presburg Road has a different character again. Its conservation area protects a small group of distinctive early twentieth-century Queen Anne Revival houses. For a homeowner there, changes to the roof, front elevation, brickwork, windows or overall proportions can require a particularly considered response.
New Malden also contains Local Areas of Special Character at Elm Road, Lime Grove, The Berg Estate and Thetford Road. If your property falls within one of these areas, Kingston Council gives additional attention to characteristics such as scale, building form, materials, architectural details and landscaping when assessing new development.
For you, these designations do not mean your home cannot evolve. They mean it is worth understanding what matters about the existing house and street before deciding how the additional space should look, where it should go and how substantial the change can sensibly become.
A New Malden Architect Who Connects Design, Planning And Construction
Jonathan Woodcock is the founder of Composition Design, a RIBA Chartered architecture practice based nearby in Surbiton and working throughout New Malden, Kingston and south-west London.
Jonathan has thirty years of multidisciplinary experience across residential, commercial and leisure architecture, including experience as a director of a design-and-build practice.
That matters because planning drawings are only one stage of your project. Structural openings, loft structures, roofs, drainage, materials and construction details all need to move from an architectural idea into something that can actually be built.
I can stay involved through technical design, contractor selection and construction so the thinking developed at the beginning is carried through to the finished building.
Some Of Our Recently Completed Projects
How It Works
I Study Your Property
The process begins with your enquiry and address. I review the New Malden property, its surroundings, planning history and any obvious conservation, local-character or site considerations so I already understand the basic context when we speak.
We Discuss Your Plans
We discuss what you would like to achieve, what you want to change and what you need the finished property to give you. That is usually followed by a visit so we can look at the house and site together.
You Receive A Tailored Proposal
Composition Design prepares a fee proposal around the work your project actually requires, whether that begins with feasibility and planning or continues through technical design, contractor selection and construction.
Trusted By New Malden Homeowners, Developers And Businesses
We worked with Jonathan on plans for a loft conversion and also a ground-floor kitchen extension. Jonathan was excellent, researching thoroughly for both. From the initial chat we found our ideas were listened to, and Jonathan provided great insight into what we could and couldn't do in terms of our council's restrictions. The process was quick - we had drawings in no time. We were also thankful for the builder recommendations.
We worked with Jonathan on a couple of projects: an initial ground-floor extension, followed by an extension to our first floor. On both occasions, Jonathan provided us with creative options to maximise the use of the space, and the end result has transformed our home. Jonathan was hands-on throughout, from the initial design concepts to managing the planning process, coordinating with the builders and providing practical advice when we needed it. I would highly recommend Jonathan and his team at Composition Design.
Jonathan was our architect and project manager for our home, and we were extremely delighted with the new plans as they suited our needs. From the outset, he showed a remarkable ability to blend creative vision with practical execution - his designs met our aesthetic expectations while adhering to all relevant building regulations. When we encountered challenges, Jonathan navigated them with real adaptability, and we were very pleased with how he collaborated with us and the builders to keep everyone aligned. We had a large extension and a loft conversion at the same time, and the completed home exceeded our expectations. If we were ever to build again, I would not hesitate to work with Jonathan.
Serving New Malden And Neighbouring Locations
Composition Design works throughout New Malden, including properties around Coombe Road, Malden Hill, The Groves, Presburg Road, Thetford Road, Elm Road, Lime Grove and the surrounding KT3 residential streets.
I also work throughout neighbouring Kingston, Surbiton and south-west London. Each linked location page below covers the architectural and planning considerations particularly relevant to properties in that area.
For more about the practice and the full architectural service, visit Composition Design Architects.
Let's Discuss What Your New Malden Property Could Become
If you are considering an extension, whole-house refurbishment, loft conversion, new home or major alterations to a property in New Malden, send me your address and a little about what you would like to achieve.
I will review the property before we speak so our first conversation can focus on its potential, the important questions that need answering and the most sensible way to move your project forward.
New Malden Architects: Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need Planning Permission For An Extension In New Malden?
A New Malden house extension does not always require planning permission. Some residential extensions can qualify as permitted development, but the permitted development rules depend on the existing property, the dimensions and position of the proposed work and any restrictions affecting the house. The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is the local planning authority for New Malden. Composition Design reviews the property's planning history and relevant constraints before recommending whether permitted development or a householder planning application is the appropriate route.
Which Council Deals With Planning Applications In New Malden?
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is the local planning authority for New Malden. Kingston Council determines planning applications for house extensions, loft alterations, refurbishments, replacement dwellings, new homes and other development in New Malden. Composition Design reviews the property's planning history and the planning considerations relevant to the proposed work before developing the design too far. That early assessment helps establish the realistic options before significant time and money are committed.
Are There Conservation Areas In New Malden?
New Malden contains several designated conservation areas, including The Groves and Presburg Road. Conservation-area designation gives additional importance to the architectural character and appearance of the area when development is considered. Composition Design checks the individual New Malden property because conservation controls apply to specific designated areas rather than automatically applying to every KT3 address. The planning and design strategy can then reflect the requirements that genuinely affect the property.
What Is The Groves Conservation Area In New Malden?
The Groves is a conservation area in New Malden formed around residential roads originally laid out in the nineteenth century. The area developed gradually over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, creating a varied residential character with established gardens and mature trees. Composition Design considers that character when designing an extension or major alteration within The Groves. The aim is to provide the additional space and modern accommodation the homeowner needs while ensuring the new work has an appropriate relationship with the existing property and surrounding street.
Is Presburg Road A Conservation Area?
Presburg Road is a designated conservation area in New Malden. Kingston Council identifies the area for its small group of Queen Anne Revival houses built in the early twentieth century. The proportions, brickwork, roof forms, windows and mature gardens contribute to the area's distinctive character. Composition Design takes those features into account when developing alterations or extensions to a Presburg Road property so the proposed work responds to the original architecture rather than treating conservation considerations as an issue to resolve after the design has been completed.
Are There Local Areas Of Special Character In New Malden?
Kingston Council identifies several Local Areas of Special Character within New and Old Malden, including Elm Road, Lime Grove, The Berg Estate and Thetford Road. Kingston Council seeks new development in these areas to respect characteristics such as density, layout, scale, height, building form, materials, architectural details and landscaping. Composition Design checks whether a New Malden property falls within one of these areas before fixing the architectural approach so the proposed work responds appropriately to the surrounding character.
Can I Convert The Loft Of My New Malden Home?
A loft conversion can be possible on many New Malden homes where the existing roof structure and planning context support the additional accommodation. Some loft alterations can qualify as permitted development, while others require planning permission. Roof form, dormer size, neighbouring properties and any conservation or Local Area of Special Character designation can influence the appropriate design. Composition Design assesses the existing New Malden property first so the loft conversion works with the rest of the house and creates useful accommodation rather than simply maximising roof volume.
Do Neighbouring Properties Affect A New Malden Extension?
Neighbouring properties can influence the scale and position of a New Malden extension. Kingston Council can consider privacy, overlooking, daylight, overshadowing, building height and the relationship between proposed development and neighbouring homes when assessing a planning application. Composition Design studies those relationships before fixing the extension footprint. Understanding neighbouring windows, boundaries and gardens early can help create the additional accommodation the homeowner needs without introducing avoidable planning problems.
Do I Need An Architect For A House Extension In New Malden?
UK planning law does not generally require a homeowner to appoint an architect simply because a house extension is being built. An architect can, however, help a New Malden homeowner develop the design, assess the planning context, coordinate technical information and turn an initial idea into a buildable project. Composition Design can provide architectural services from feasibility and concept design through planning, building regulations, contractor selection and construction, with the level of involvement tailored to the individual project.
Does Composition Design Stay Involved After Planning Permission?
Composition Design can remain involved with a New Malden project after planning permission is granted. Jonathan Woodcock can continue the architectural service through building regulations, technical design, construction drawings, tendering, contractor selection and construction. Continuing the architectural service helps carry the decisions made during concept and planning design into the detailed information used by the contractor and ultimately into the finished property.
Can Composition Design Recommend Builders For A New Malden Project?
Composition Design can help a New Malden homeowner identify and assess suitable builders. Jonathan Woodcock works with experienced contractors and can support tendering and contractor selection where those services form part of the architectural appointment. Composition Design can also remain involved during construction, coordinating architectural information with the builder, structural engineer and other consultants so the homeowner continues to have architectural support as the project moves from drawings into construction.