South Cornwall · TR3
Renovations & Remodels in Playing Place
Cornish housing stock is brilliant and infuriating in equal measure. We renovate cottages, farmhouses, mid-century homes and post-war estates — opening up layouts, fixing damp, adding light and bringing the property up to a standard worth living in. In Playing Place, that work is shaped by the place itself — Playing Place is a residential village south of Truro on the A39, with strong commuter demand and steady infill development pressure, with a building stock that leans toward 1960s estates and Edwardian and Victorian cottages on the fringes.
Local context
Why Playing Place is its own job.
Outside Conservation Area and AONB. Kea parish operates active input on infill schemes; sewerage capacity has shaped some recent decisions. For renovation specifically, Playing Place sits outside the headline designations, which usually gives a slightly more flexible starting point — but parish-level character still matters. That's why we treat every Playing Place project as a TR3-area job first — not a generic Cornwall job with a postcode bolted on.
Planning note
Most Cornish renovations don't need planning — but listed status, curtilage listing, Conservation Area designation and material changes can all change that picture.
What we focus on
Renovations considerations specific to Playing Place.
01
Listed and curtilage-listed properties need Listed Building Consent for many internal alterations that wouldn't normally need approval.
02
Original fireplaces, slate floors, beams and joinery are often worth rescuing; the design conversation should start with what stays, not what goes.
03
Older Cornish properties are often built with cob, rubble or solid granite — modern insulation strategies that work in cavity walls cause damp problems in solid construction. Breathable build-ups matter.
Our process
How a Playing Place renovation project runs.
Step 1
Survey
Measured survey, condition assessment, services check and listed status review.
Step 2
Design
Layout options, material strategy and a clear list of what stays and what changes.
Step 3
Approvals
Listed Building Consent and building regulations as needed.
Step 4
Strip-out and works
Carefully sequenced demolition, structural works and rebuild.
Step 5
Finish and handover
Joinery, decoration, snagging and documentation pack.
Whole-house renovations typically run six to fourteen months on site; partial remodels two to four months.
FAQs
Playing Place Renovations — common questions.
- How long does a renovation take?
- Single rooms in weeks, kitchens in two to three months, whole-house renovations in six to fourteen months depending on size and listed status. In Playing Place specifically, we'd start by checking the latest parish-level planning history before committing to a direction.
- Can I live in the house during the work?
- Sometimes yes, often no. Single-room remodels and phased work can be liveable; whole-house renovations involving rewires, replumbing or floor lifting almost never are. We're honest about this at the brief.
- What about damp and old walls?
- We assess the cause first — usually rising damp myths, blocked vents, hard cement renders trapping moisture, or roofs needing attention. A breathable repair strategy fixes most of it without chemical intervention.
- How much does a full renovation cost in Cornwall?
- A whole-house renovation typically lands between £1,800 and £3,000 per square metre depending on condition, listed status and finish level. We survey before quoting and don't price by guesswork.
Other services in Playing Place
Nearby places we cover