Bromley · housing and retrofit
Bromley is London’s largest borough by area, and much of its housing is suburban. Petts Wood is a well-documented example: Basil Scruby and architect Leonard Culliford drew up the masterplan in 1928, the station opened the same year, and the suburb was largely complete by 1938.
Petts Wood houses by builders such as Noel Rees are typically neo-Tudor or vernacular in style – white render, black timber framing, red brick and Kent peg-tile roofs – and several parts of the suburb are now conservation areas.
Property types
Common local property types in Bromley
- Interwar detached and semi-detached houses
- Victorian and Edwardian villas in older centres
- Post-war houses and estates
- Newer flats
Local considerations
What tends to shape retrofit here
- Chislehurst Road conservation area in Petts Wood has Article 4 directions removing permitted development for roof alterations, which can affect rooflights, dormers and roof-mounted equipment
- Other Petts Wood conservation areas include The Chenies, Station Square, The Covert and The Thrifts
- Rendered and timber-effect elevations with peg-tile roofs call for moisture-aware insulation choices
- Detached and semi-detached houses have more exposed wall and roof area than terraces, so heat loss calculations matter for heating design
Conservation area rules, Article 4 directions and listed building controls are set by Bromley Council and can change. Check the current position before finalising external changes: Bromley conservation areas.
Making an enquiry
Making an enquiry from Bromley
- Tell us whether the property is in a conservation area or Area of Special Residential Character
- Mention any planned roof work, solar panels or rooflights
- Tell us if you are considering a heat pump
Services available
Services available in Bromley
- Retrofit Assessment – an on-site survey of how the home is built, heated, ventilated and used – the starting point for a retrofit plan.
- Heat Loss & Heat Demand – room-by-room heat loss (kW) to size a heat pump or radiators, and annual heat demand (kWh) to understand energy use.
- Retrofit Design – specifications and key details that installers can price and build, with junctions and ventilation resolved.
- Airtightness Testing – a fan pressure test that measures how much air leaks through the house, before or after works.
- All services