Kent Construction Trends We’re Seeing
Homeowners in Kent are prioritising kitchen-led extensions, loft conversions, and garden rooms — with steady demand for re-roofs, glazing upgrades and heating improvements. Commuter hubs like Sevenoaks, Dartford, and Tunbridge Wells skew towards extensions and refurbishments, while coastal areas such as Thanet and Folkestone & Hythe see strong interest in outbuildings and retrofit projects. BuildAlert turns these planning filings into home improvement leads in Kent you can act on fast.
Data source: official council planning registers across Kent, monitored daily by BuildAlert.
What Kind of Construction Jobs Come from Planning Applications in Kent?
BuildAlert scans planning applications that lead to real, local construction and building work across Kent. These are some of the most common projects tradespeople win through the platform:
Single & Double-Storey Extensions
Open-plan kitchens, rear extensions, or family room upgrades — frequent across Maidstone, Medway and Tunbridge Wells.
Loft Conversions & Dormers
New bedrooms, offices, or playrooms — often involving roofing, structural steel, and electrics.
Outbuildings & Garden Rooms
Garden offices and studios with electrics, heating and insulated floors — popular in Sevenoaks and Canterbury.
Garage & Basement Conversions
Converting unused spaces into habitable rooms — ideal for builders, plasterers, electricians and plumbers.
New-Build Houses
From rural self-builds to infill plots, BuildAlert captures early-stage permissions for brand new homes.
Annexes
Detached annexes for relatives or rental income — requiring groundworks, drainage, M&E and interiors.
Change of Use & Mixed-Use Conversions
Repurposing garages, shops or agricultural buildings into homes — typically multi-trade projects.
Roof Replacements & Alterations
Re-roofs, dormers, roof light installations, and pitched-to-flat alterations.
Whether you're a general builder, underfloor heating installer, roofer, or electrician, these Kent projects often need your trade at the earliest stage — and BuildAlert helps you reach the homeowner first.
Commercial & Tender Opportunities in Kent
BuildAlert isn’t just for residential work. We surface planning applications for commercial and mixed-use developments across Kent — including retail refurbishments, office fit-outs, industrial units and warehousing near major routes like the M2/M20. These schemes frequently move to tender soon after approval, giving local contractors, specialists and suppliers an early head start.
Use filters to focus on commercial or domestic projects and refine by postcode, trade and job size — so you only see opportunities that match your pipeline.
Who Else Uses BuildAlert in Kent
Beyond individual trades, BuildAlert data is used by companies who want early visibility on local projects.
- Lead Generation Companies – power campaigns with fresh planning data and real homeowner intent.
- Party Wall Surveyors – monitor extensions and loft conversions likely to require notices.
- Garden Room Manufacturers & Suppliers – spot outbuildings and garden studios at the planning stage.
- Screeding & UFH Companies – find extensions and renovations needing floor screed or underfloor prep.
- Scaffolding & Plant Hire – quote early on structural, roofing and new build schemes.
- Merchants & Distributors – identify active builders and installers to target with timely offers.
- Skip Hire & Waste Management – reach homeowners and contractors during site preparation.
- Architects & Planning Consultants – track nearby applications and identify potential clients.
Access Kent Planning Data Directly
Prefer working with the data itself? BuildAlert provides access to our Kent planning application feed for companies building their own systems — ideal for marketing platforms, CRMs, data products and suppliers.
Licence structured data (applicant name, address, proposal text, categories, decision status, dates) updated daily and delivered via API or CSV export.
Enquire About Data AccessHow to Get Construction Leads in Kent
BuildAlert helps tradespeople discover construction jobs near them with minimal effort. Choose your area and we’ll send you the latest residential and commercial construction leads across Kent.
- ✔️ Real-time builder leads from Kent planning applications
- ✔️ Filter by trade, postcode, and commercial vs. domestic projects
- ✔️ Tools to send letters and reach homeowners or developers first
- ✔️ No subscription — pay only when you want to contact a lead
Why Trades Across Kent Choose BuildAlert
- Construction Leads From Planning Applications: You get jobs from the earliest stage – before quotes go out to the competition.
- Tailored Alerts By Trade & Location: Whether you're an electrician in Canterbury or a roofer in Ashford, we match leads to your work.
- Real-Time Updates: We scan every Kent council daily and notify you within 48 hours of new filings.
- No Subscription Required: Sign up free, browse all jobs. Pay only when you want to reach out.
- One-Click Outreach: Send a physical letter to the homeowner or developer introducing your services with just a click.
How BuildAlert Works
1. Create a Free Account
Sign up in minutes and tell us your trade and where in Kent you work. You can include multiple areas if you cover more than one region.
2. Set Filters That Match Your Work
Choose the type of projects you want — by location, job type, or keywords like “extension”, “loft conversion”, or “bifold doors”. You’ll only see planning leads that fit your trade.
3. View Full Planning Applications
Each lead includes the applicant’s details and original PDF plans from the local council, so you can see exactly what work is being proposed before making contact.
4. Send Branded Letters to Applicants
Send a professionally printed, branded letter to the homeowner with a single click — or let BuildAlert automatically send letters on your behalf whenever new projects match your criteria.
Areas We Cover in Kent
BuildAlert tracks planning applications from all Kent councils and major towns, including:
Frequently Asked Questions
Which areas in Kent have the most planning applications?
Volumes are consistently strong around Maidstone, Canterbury, Medway and Ashford — ideal for extensions, lofts and refurbishments.
Can BuildAlert help me find commercial or tender opportunities in Kent?
Yes. Alongside residential projects, BuildAlert tracks commercial and mixed-use developments — including retail, office and industrial schemes — which frequently move to tender shortly after approval.
How do I find window and bifold door leads in Kent?
We scan every Kent planning application to find projects mentioning glazing upgrades, bifolds and new openings, so you can contact homeowners before they start requesting quotes.
Do garden room suppliers get value from BuildAlert?
Absolutely — outbuildings and garden rooms are frequent applications we track. Suppliers and installers can engage early and coordinate with builders and electricians on the same job.
Can I filter construction leads by commercial or domestic jobs?
Yes. Filter by project type (commercial or domestic), trade, postcode coverage and job size — so you only see opportunities that fit your business.
Can I export or access the data via API?
For companies that prefer to work with raw data, we offer CSV exports and API access to the Kent planning feed. Contact us to discuss usage and licensing.
How quickly will I start receiving leads?
Most trades in Kent begin receiving relevant planning leads within 24–48 hours of joining BuildAlert. Alerts are sent daily so you can act fast.
Ready to Get More Local Construction Work?
Join trades across Kent using BuildAlert to find real construction jobs. Sign up free and get live planning leads in your inbox.
Get Free Construction Leads NowWork in Nearby Counties?
BuildAlert also tracks planning applications and builder leads in neighbouring areas. If you cover more than just Essex, check out nearby leads: