So we got the quote from the electrician yesterday. We’ve been quoted nearly £4000 for the work! Our project manager had budgeted £1250 so that represents quite an overspend.
I phoned the electrician today and he explained that that was based on a worst-case scenario which may not arise (i.e. that he has to completely rewire everything including a new consumer unit). Given our current luck with the house – it probably would happen though. It would seem that our desire to have down-lights throughout the ground floor may be where the high costs are so we could always go for standard pendant lights (although they aren’t as attractive).
We’ve decided to compromise – the electrician is going to the house again tomorrow (and maybe Friday) to thoroughly assess and test the existing wiring. If it doesn’t look too bad then we can have the expensive lights but if everything needs to be changed then we’ll have to reassess what we can do without (or rob a bank…).