Chapter 7: Basement construction, extension and alteration projects

The UK continues to rely on major alteration and refurbishment works in order to help meet the increasing demand for housing and other accommodation spaces. The need is both to accommodate new uses and to upgrade building performance. The scales of the projects vary substantially depending on several factors. At the domestic level, a substantial amount of such works entail permitted extensions, loft conversions, basement constructions and, more recently, retrofitting of old stock to make it more energy efficient. At the non-domestic level, alteration and refurbishment projects normally entail a significant amount of demolition, extension and refurbishment activity. Evidence suggests that this trend is likely to continue into the foreseeable future as the industry continues to address the requirements of sustainable development. However, the high incidence of insufficient as-built details available to designers can make the implementation of alteration projects a health and safety management challenge.