What is included
Howdens or comparable kitchen (typically £8k-£15k for the full kitchen budget), Roca/Grohe taps and sanitaryware, engineered oak floors in primary rooms, double or triple glazing with composite or aluclad frames, ASHP heating with low-temperature radiators or wet underfloor heating, MVHR ventilation, fitted internal joinery (wardrobes, AV cabinetry).
Current £/sqm range
BCIS Q2 2026 small-residential mid-range £2,000-£2,500/sqm UK average[BCIS Q2 2026]. South East with 1.20x regional multiplier lands £2,400-£3,000/sqm; London 1.45x lands £2,900-£3,625/sqm.
Why this is the dominant tier
It is the spec that suits the buyer profile most likely to commission a KDR: late-30s to early-50s, suburban Home Counties, intending to live in the property 15+ years. The kit lasts, the finish reads well at resale, the energy bills are manageable, the spec does not date as fast as developer-spec.
Cost-effective uplifts from developer-spec
Engineered oak instead of vinyl (+£45/sqm). Aluclad or composite glazing instead of UPVc (+£100/sqm of glazed area). Howdens-style kitchen instead of Travis Perkins entry (+£3k-£8k). ASHP plus MVHR instead of gas boiler plus extracts (+£12k-£18k but FHS-compliant). Total uplift £35k-£70k on a 200 sqm replacement; usually pays back in resale and lifetime energy.