Fit-out and refurbishment of commercial office space
Office Fit-Outs
An office fit-out is the work that turns a shell or existing commercial unit into a usable workspace — partitioning, floor and ceiling finishes, power and data cabling, lighting and decoration — carried out to meet fire safety and accessibility requirements for the intended use.
Definition
What Office Fit-Outs covers
Office fit-out work ranges from a Category A shell (raised floors, suspended ceilings and basic mechanical and electrical services, often provided by a landlord) through to a full Category B tenant fit-out with partitioning, meeting rooms, breakout spaces, branded finishes and furniture. It also covers reconfiguring or refreshing an existing occupied office. Fire safety (Part B), means of escape and accessibility (Part M) requirements apply to commercial fit-out work in the same way they apply to any commercial building.
Suitable for
- Businesses fitting out newly leased office space from shell or Category A
- Reconfiguring or refreshing an existing office layout
- Landlords preparing a commercial unit for a new tenant
- Small and medium office premises rather than large multi-floor corporate schemes
Not suitable for
- Large multi-floor corporate fit-outs needing a dedicated principal contractor under CDM 2015 beyond our scale — we're upfront about this rather than taking on work outside our capability
- Structural alterations to the building envelope or shared walls without landlord and Building Control approval already in place
Process
How the work is carried out
- 01
Consultation
Understanding the business's brief, budget, timeline and any lease constraints on the space.
- 02
Design and specification
Developing layout, partitioning, and power, data and lighting requirements, factoring in fire safety and accessibility compliance.
- 03
Approvals
Supporting any landlord licence for alterations and Building Control requirements the works trigger.
- 04
Fit-out and handover
Carrying out partitioning, finishes and services installation, with compliance documentation provided at completion.
Typical timescale
A straightforward reconfiguration can take a few weeks; a full Category A to Category B fit-out typically takes several weeks to a few months depending on scale. Confirmed in your programme after a site visit and specification review.
Cost guidance
Office fit-out costs vary significantly with scope, specification and the existing condition of the space, so we don't publish a generic per-square-metre figure. Pricing follows a site visit and specification discussion, set out as an itemised quotation for your requirements.
Limitations and exclusions
- A landlord's licence for alterations, where required under your lease, is your responsibility to obtain, though we can provide the technical information needed to support the application
- Fire safety, means of escape and accessibility compliance is designed into the fit-out rather than treated as optional
- Furniture, IT and AV equipment and telecoms lines beyond first-fix cabling are typically outside the build contract unless specifically included
Areas we cover
Office Fit-Outs across Sussex, Surrey, Kent and South London
Local property styles, planning authorities and neighbourhood coverage for office fit-outs in each town we work in.
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FAQs
Office Fit-Outs FAQs
What's the difference between a Category A and Category B fit-out?
Category A is the basic shell — raised floors, suspended ceilings and core mechanical and electrical services, often provided by the landlord. Category B is the tenant's own fit-out on top of that, covering partitioning, finishes, meeting rooms and branding to suit how the business will use the space.
Do we need our landlord's permission for an office fit-out?
Most commercial leases require landlord consent, usually via a licence for alterations, for anything beyond very minor changes. We recommend checking your lease early, and can provide the technical detail needed to support an application.
Can you carry out the fit-out while our business is still trading nearby or in part of the space?
Often yes — we agree phasing and, where needed, out-of-hours working to minimise disruption, discussed and programmed in at the outset.
Discuss your office fit-outs project
Tell us about the property and what you have in mind, and we'll arrange a site visit.
Last reviewed 2026-07-28.