Builders in Forest of Dean
New builds, extensions and conversions in Forest of Dean, delivered by our experienced team based in Ross-on-Wye.
CHAS accredited · No upfront deposit · Free survey on homes you own
Local to Forest of Dean
Building in Forest of Dean and the surrounding area
Where we work
The Forest of Dean sits right next door to our base at Linton Barns, Ross-on-Wye, so it's one of the areas we work in most. We build across the district, including Coleford, Cinderford, Lydney, Mitcheldean, Newnham, Drybrook and the villages scattered through and around the forest itself.
Property types in Forest of Dean
The Forest has a distinctive building stock: stone-built miners' and quarrymen's cottages, Victorian terraces in the old industrial towns, chapels and former industrial buildings, post-war housing and newer estates, plus farmhouses and outbuildings on its fringes. Many homes are modest in size, which is why extensions and conversions are so popular here.
What people in Forest of Dean ask us for
Forest homeowners often ask us about garage conversions and single-storey extensions to add living space to smaller cottages and terraces, loft conversions where roof height allows, and renovations of older stone properties. We also take on barn conversions and new builds on plots around the edges of the forest.
Getting to you
We don't publish fixed response times. Call 0800 292 2159 during office hours (Mon–Fri 8:00am–5:30pm) or send an enquiry, and we'll arrange a survey visit in Forest of Dean at a time that suits you.
Services in Forest of Dean
What we build in Forest of Dean
Design & Build in Forest of Dean
Design, planning permission and conservation work, priced from the start.
New Builds in Forest of Dean
Complete new homes, from groundworks to handover, with a 10-year warranty.
Extensions in Forest of Dean
Single and multi-storey extensions that add space without moving house.
Barn Conversions in Forest of Dean
Agricultural buildings turned into homes, handled with care for the original fabric.
Garage Conversions in Forest of Dean
Turn an underused garage into a room you'll use every day.
Loft Conversions in Forest of Dean
Extra bedrooms or a workspace, built into the space you already own.
Commercial Buildings in Forest of Dean
Steel-frame buildings, offices, units and food-industry clean facilities.
Commercial Fit-Outs & Refurbishments in Forest of Dean
Adapt offices and commercial units around the way your business works.
Commercial Landscaping in Forest of Dean
Outdoor works for business premises, coordinated with your building and site.
Kitchens in Forest of Dean
Installations and refurbishments by the same team that builds the shell.
Bathrooms in Forest of Dean
Installations and refurbishments by the same team that builds the shell.
Roofing in Forest of Dean
General roofing works and repairs.
Carpentry in Forest of Dean
General trade carpentry, in-house.
Why BUILT in Forest of Dean
A contractor with the capacity to deliver
We're close enough to the Forest to know its terrain and building traditions, and big enough, with 25 tradespeople and our own units, to resource projects of any size. Every job is covered by CHAS accreditation and £10M liability insurance.
On many projects in Forest of Dean, the biggest risk isn't the building itself but the gaps between trades. When groundworkers, bricklayers, roofers, carpenters and fitters are booked separately, each delay pushes the next trade back, and responsibility for problems becomes unclear. BUILT keeps those trades in-house: our 25 tradespeople cover structure, roofing, carpentry, kitchens and bathrooms, supported by 4 office staff who plan the programme. That means one point of contact for your Forest of Dean project, one company accountable for the result, and fortnightly invoices tied to work actually completed rather than an upfront deposit.
- 25 years of trade experience, three generations of builders
- 25 tradespeople on the tools and 4 office staff
- CHAS accredited, £10M public and employers' liability insurance
- No upfront deposit: invoiced fortnightly for completed work
- 10-year warranty on new build houses, 1 year on other work
- Free site survey on properties you already own
Local building challenges
What to plan for when building in Forest of Dean
Property types
Older stone cottages often have thick rubble walls, low ceilings and small rooms. Extending or opening them up needs structural care, and the right materials, such as lime-based mortars, to keep walls breathable and dry.
Climate and flooding
The Forest's wooded, often damp environment and hilly terrain mean water management matters: good drainage, ventilation and damp-proofing are essential when converting garages or extending onto sloping sites.
Infrastructure and access
The Forest has a long history of coal and iron mining, including small-scale free mining. On some sites, old mine workings need to be considered before building, and a Coal Authority mining report may be needed. Narrow lanes and steep plots can also limit access for deliveries.
Building age
Many miners' cottages and terraces date from the 19th century or earlier and have been altered many times. We survey existing structures carefully so any hidden issues are understood before a price is agreed.
Planning in Forest of Dean
Planning and regulations
Planning in the Forest of Dean is handled by the Forest of Dean District Council. The statutory Forest and its surroundings are highly valued landscapes, parts of the district fall within the Wye Valley National Landscape, and many villages have conservation areas. Where previous mining is a factor, ground investigation may be needed alongside planning and Building Regulations.
Typical projects
Projects we take on in Forest of Dean
Typical Forest projects include converting an integral garage into a home office in Cinderford, adding a rear extension to a stone cottage near Drybrook, a loft conversion in a terraced house in Lydney, or a new build on a plot on the edge of the forest.
Local materials and character
Local grey and pennant sandstone, Forest stone slates and brick are typical. New work on stone cottages often uses reclaimed or matching stone on visible elevations, with lime mortars to keep older walls breathable.
Who we work with
Who we build for in Forest of Dean
Homeowners
Families in Forest of Dean who need more space without moving: extensions, loft and garage conversions, kitchens and bathrooms.
Self-builders and landowners
People with a plot or agricultural building near Forest of Dean who want a new home or barn conversion built properly, with a 10-year warranty on new build houses.
Buyers
Anyone considering a property in Forest of Dean who wants to know what the work will cost first. Our pre-purchase estimate is £250 + VAT, refunded on your first invoice if you book.
Businesses
Companies in and around Forest of Dean needing steel-frame buildings, offices, commercial units or clean-environment facilities for the food industry.
Before you start your Forest of Dean project
- Know roughly what you want to achieve and what you'd like to spend; we'll tell you honestly what's realistic in Forest of Dean.
- Check whether your property is listed, in a conservation area or a flood zone; if you're unsure, we'll check at survey.
- Gather any existing drawings, planning consents or surveys you already have.
- Think about access for vehicles, skips and scaffolding, especially on narrow streets or rural lanes.
- Ask any contractor about deposits, insurance and warranties before signing. Ours: no deposit, £10M insured, 10-year new build and 1-year standard warranties.
Our process
How your Forest of Dean project runs
- Step 1
Free site survey
We visit your property, discuss what you want to achieve and look at structure, access and services. Free on properties you own; £250 + VAT pre-purchase, refunded on your first invoice if you book.
- Step 2
Clear, upfront price
You get an itemised price for the work. Design and build packages, including planning and conservation, are priced from the outset with approval likelihood assessed.
- Step 3
Planned programme
We agree a programme and plan access, deliveries and site safety around your property and neighbours.
- Step 4
Built by our own team
Our 25 tradespeople carry out the work, invoiced fortnightly by the percentage completed, with no upfront deposit.
- Step 5
Handover and warranty
We walk the finished work with you and deal with any snags. 10-year warranty on new build houses, 1 year on other work.
FAQs
Building in Forest of Dean: your questions
Nearby areas we cover
As well as Forest of Dean, we build across Gloucestershire and the wider region of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and South Wales.
Our team regularly works between Forest of Dean and nearby Coleford, Lydney, Ross-on-Wye, Newent, Monmouth, so the same standards, payment terms and warranties apply wherever your property is. Every project, whether it's a small garage conversion or a large commercial building, starts with a survey visit and a clear, itemised price, and nothing is invoiced until work has been completed. If your property is on the boundary between two areas, or you're not sure whether we cover your village, call 0800 292 2159 during office hours and we'll confirm straight away. From our base at Linton Barns, Ross-on-Wye, we cover Forest of Dean and the communities around it as part of our regular working area, and we're always happy to talk through a project before you commit to anything.
Planning a project in Forest of Dean?
Free site survey on properties you own. No upfront deposit. CHAS accredited and £10M insured.