The difference between a smart home that works beautifully and one that’s a compromised retrofit is almost always decided before a single switch is fitted. Specify Loxone at drawing stage, and your main contractor pre-wires correctly during first fix. Specify it after the walls are plastered, and the same system costs 30–40% more and takes longer to install.
This article is for people building or significantly renovating a property in the East Midlands — and for the architects and project managers advising them.
Why timing matters more than anything else
Loxone uses a wired topology called Loxone Tree. Tree cable is cheap, fast to run and incredibly capable — each cable carries power, data and two-way communication to any Loxone device on the network. Running Tree cable through open stud walls and open floor joists during first fix takes a few hours. Running the same cable through finished walls takes days, creates mess and requires redecoration.
The cost difference: A whole-house Loxone specification installed during first fix typically costs £18,000–£28,000 for a 3–4 bed property. The equivalent retrofit in a finished house runs £25,000–£40,000 for the same specification — not because the system is different, but because the labour to access closed wall cavities is significantly greater.
The single most cost-effective decision a new-build or renovation client can make: involve Westgate before your main contractor’s first fix.
Buying from a developer rather than commissioning your own build? The constraint is different — you rarely control the electrical package — so we’ve written that case up separately on new build home automation, including what to ask the site manager for and what to do when the answer is no.
What Westgate does at M&E stage
Our involvement in new-build and major renovation projects follows a consistent process:
1. M&E consultation (from £750) We review your architectural drawings and brief, then produce a Loxone M&E specification document covering:
- Cable routes for every Loxone circuit
- Device positions (switches, sensors, audio speakers, access control panels)
- Cabinet size and location
- Integration requirements (solar/battery, EV charger, CCTV, underfloor heating zones, alarm)
- First-fix cable schedule for your main contractor
The consultation fee is fully deductible from the installation cost if we proceed to install.
2. First-fix review We visit during first fix to check the cabling is laid correctly and advise on any deviations from the spec. This typically takes half a day.
3. Second-fix installation After plasterboard and decoration, Westgate returns to fit devices, build the cabinet, load the configuration and commission the system. This is where the Miniserver is programmed with your specific scenes, automations and integrations.
4. Commissioning and handover Full system test, customer walkthrough and Loxone app setup for every household member.
What Loxone adds to a new build
Lighting that actually automates
A standard new build has wired lighting circuits on dumb switches. Loxone turns those circuits into an intelligent lighting system: scenes that adjust to natural light levels, rooms that know whether they’re occupied, outdoor lighting that responds to sunset times and security triggers.
The cost premium over standard wiring to achieve this is modest when done at M&E stage — you’re largely paying for the Miniserver, Tree extensions and configuration rather than extensive remedial labour.
Underfloor heating zoning
UFH zoning is one of the highest-value integrations Loxone offers. A standard UFH installation splits into a handful of zones controlled by basic thermostats. Loxone controls each zone individually, learns occupancy patterns, integrates with a weather feed and coordinates with solar generation to run the system most efficiently. Over the lifetime of the system, this pays back in energy savings.
Solar, battery and EV integration
For new builds with solar panels and EV charging — an increasingly standard combination — Loxone’s energy management module coordinates all three automatically. When solar is generating, Loxone runs high-draw appliances (EV charger, washing machine, underfloor heating) and minimises grid import. When the battery is full and generating surplus, it shifts consumption to maximise the household’s self-sufficiency ratio.
Multiroom Audio
Ceiling speakers specified at M&E stage with recessed back-boxes and cable routes costs a fraction of retrofitting the equivalent. Loxone Multiroom Audio is a fully integrated system — not a Sonos bolted on afterwards — and the audio zones are tied into the scenes system.
Access control
Smart locks, NFC entry panels and video doorbells are all more elegantly implemented at M&E stage. Cable routes for door-lock actuators, intercom wiring and exterior panel positioning are planned with the architect, not hacked in afterwards.
The Loxone self-build service: how we engage
Westgate’s self-build and renovation service is designed to slot into an existing project team. We are not a main contractor — we’re a specialist M&E consultant and Loxone installer. Our role is:
- Pre-build: Produce the Loxone M&E spec in coordination with your architect
- During build: Review first-fix cabling and attend site as needed
- Post-plastering: Install devices, build cabinet and commission the system
- Handover: Train the household and provide documentation
We work with architects, self-build project managers, planning consultants and main contractors across the East Midlands regularly. If you’re early in the design process, the earlier you introduce us, the more cost-effective the outcome.
See our full self-build service or contact us to discuss your project.
Common questions from new-build clients
Can you work alongside any main contractor, or only preferred partners? We work alongside any competent main contractor. We provide the first-fix cable schedule; they lay the cable. We return for second fix and commissioning.
Is Loxone compatible with standard housebuilder wiring? Yes, with caveats. Standard housebuilder wiring uses 6-core or similar cables which are not the same as Loxone Tree cable. We can accommodate partial Loxone installations that use standard wiring for some circuits, but the full benefit of Loxone’s automation capability requires Tree topology.
What planning requirements apply? None specific to Loxone. The system is an electrical installation and complies with Part P. No additional planning permission is required.
Can I add Loxone to a new build already under construction? Yes, if you’re before second fix. The closer you are to first fix being complete, the more restricted the cable routes become. Contact us as early as possible.
Do you cover the whole East Midlands for new builds? Yes. We cover NG, DE and S postcodes as standard, with Lincoln (LN1–LN6) as a fringe area. For large self-build projects outside this radius, contact us to discuss.
Next steps
Book a 30-minute call to discuss your project — bring your drawings if you have them and we can give you a preliminary sense of scope and cost. For projects already in planning or early construction, the call is the best use of 30 minutes you’ll spend on your build.
Jack Jones
Director, Westgate Property Solutions · Loxone Silver Partner