Covering Camden Town
Camden Town sits 2 miles north of London, with Holloway 1 miles to the north-east and Islington 2 miles to the east.
Homes in London
Much of London’s housing is Victorian and Edwardian terraces, which is why side return extensions, rear dormers and mansards are so common. Many streets are in conservation areas, and several boroughs use Article 4 directions that remove some permitted development rights.
What is a side return extension?
A side return extension builds over the narrow passage that runs beside the back of many Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses, widening the kitchen or dining room by a metre or two. It is usually combined with a glazed or part-glazed roof so the deeper room still gets daylight.
- Drainage and new gully positions
- Underfloor heating ready screed if wanted
- Plastering and making good to the old house
How much does a side return extension cost in Camden Town?
Typical ranges for side return extensions. Ground conditions, access and specification move the final figure, which we fix in writing before work starts.
| Side return extensions | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Standard specification | £3,350 to £3,700 per m² |
| Good specification | £3,700 to £4,150 per m² |
| High specification | £4,150 to £4,550 per m² |
Planning and building rules in Camden Town
Projects in England go through two separate checks. Planning (or confirmation that the work is permitted development) comes from the district, borough or unitary council, and building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Where work touches a shared wall or digs near a neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies.
In England a single-storey rear extension can often go ahead under permitted development: up to 3 m deep on an attached house or 4 m on a detached one, no higher than 4 m, with eaves no higher than 3 m within 2 m of a boundary. Deeper extensions, up to 6 m or 8 m, need prior approval from the council first.
What should Camden Town homeowners check first?
- Most side returns touch a shared boundary, so the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 usually applies in England and Wales.
- Access is often through the house, so we plan deliveries and protect floors.
What are the steps?
- Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
- We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
- Design and fixed price. You get drawings and a written price for the agreed specification before anything is ordered.
- Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.
What people ask before starting
Is a glazed roof too hot in summer?
Modern solar-control glass and a mix of glazed and solid roof keep it comfortable. We advise on the balance during design.
How long does a side return take?
About 10 to 14 weeks on site.
How do I get a price for side return extensions in Camden Town?
Use the guide price tool for a ballpark figure, then book a visit for a fixed written price for the agreed specification.
Side return extensions in nearby towns
- Side return extensions in Holloway
- Side return extensions in Islington
- Side return extensions in Archway
- Side return extensions in Highbury
Learn more about side return extensions, or see every project we cover in Camden Town.