Covering Derby
We work in Derby (DE1) and the places around it, including Belper, Ilkeston and Heanor.
Homes in the East Midlands
Across the East Midlands you find everything from city terraces to modern estates and stone villages, so the right extension depends a lot on the street and the materials around it.
What does a side return extension involve?
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.
- Party wall notices and surveyor liaison
- Drainage and new gully positions
- Plastering and making good to the old house
What will a side return extension cost?
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 |
Do you need permission for a side return extension in Derby?
English projects need planning clearance from the local council, building regulations sign-off from building control, and party wall notices where the work is on or near a shared boundary. We prepare and manage all three.
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.
What should I think about before starting?
- 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.
From first call to completion
- Tell us about the project. Call, use the guide price tool or send the form with a few photos and a postcode.
- We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
- Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
- We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.
What people ask before starting
Will I need a party wall agreement?
Most likely, because the new wall usually sits on or near the boundary. We serve the notices and work with your neighbour’s surveyor if one is appointed.
How long does a side return take?
About 10 to 14 weeks on site.
Do you work in Derby?
Yes. Derby is within our coverage for side return extensions, along with nearby Belper and Ilkeston.
Also covering
- Side return extensions in Belper
- Side return extensions in Ilkeston
- Side return extensions in Heanor
- Side return extensions in Ripley
Learn more about side return extensions, or see every project we cover in Derby.

