Full Property Renovation & Rear Extension, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex
Highlands Drive, TN38, A Complete Transformation in the Decimus Burton Conservation Area
Some properties carry a sense of history that demands to be respected. Others carry a legacy of neglect that demands to be corrected. The best projects are the ones where both are true at once.
Highlands Drive is a detached character property in the Decimus Burton area of St Leonards-on-Sea — one of the most architecturally distinctive neighbourhoods in East Sussex, laid out in the 1820s and 1830s by the renowned town planner and architect John Decimus Burton. The property had genuine character and real potential. What it needed was a complete programme of works, inside and out, to bring it back to the standard its setting deserved.
The result is outstanding. Here’s how we got there.
The Scope of Work
This was a comprehensive, whole-property transformation spanning demolition, rebuild, full internal renovation, and external works across the entire site.
Every stage was planned, coordinated, and delivered by East Sussex Building Services, a single point of accountability across a complex, multi-phase programme of work.
Why Demolish and Rebuild?
The decision to demolish the existing rear extension rather than renovate it is one that surprises some clients, but on this project, it was the only decision that made sense.
The existing structure had fundamental issues that a surface renovation would never have resolved. Rebuilding from scratch allowed us to get the foundations, structure, and insulation right from the ground up, meaning the finished extension will perform better, last longer, and cost less to maintain than any patched-up alternative would have. It also gave the clients the freedom to reconsider the layout and proportions of the space entirely, rather than working within the constraints of what was already there.
It is a more disruptive approach in the short term. In every other respect, it is the better one.
First Impressions Matter
The external works at Highlands Drive were as considered as anything that happened inside the property.
The new frontage, gravel drive, and parking bay were designed to give the property a presence that matched its setting in one of St Leonards’ most characterful streets. The hard landscaping to the rear, new paths, levels, and a deck that steps directly off the extension, connects the interior and exterior in a way that makes the whole plot feel intentional and resolved.
A property in the Decimus Burton area carries a certain expectation. The exterior works here meet it.
The Finished Result
Highlands Drive is today a property transformed, structurally sound, beautifully finished, and reconnected with the character of its neighbourhood.
The rebuilt rear extension is bright, well-proportioned, and opens directly onto the new deck and landscaped garden. Inside, the new kitchen, living area, and bathroom have been renovated to a consistent standard throughout, with new windows and doors tying every room together. At the front, the new driveway and frontage make an immediate impression.
This is what a full commitment to quality looks like, from the foundations to the front gate.
Own a character property that deserves this level of care?
Period and character homes require builders who understand what makes them worth preserving and how to improve them without losing what makes them special. If you’re planning a renovation, extension, or full transformation of a property in East Sussex or West Kent, we’d love to hear about it.
