Side return extensions in Dorchester

Covering Dorchester

We work in Dorchester (DT1) and the places around it, including Weymouth, Bridport and Yeovil.

Homes in the South West

The South West mixes stone and render cottages, Victorian terraces in the larger towns and modern estates, and many historic centres are conservation areas where materials and roof shapes are closely controlled.

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
Glazed or solid roof with rooflights
Underfloor heating ready screed if wanted

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 Dorchester?

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.

What can affect a side return extension?

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

Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
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.
We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.

Your questions answered

How much does a side return extension cost?

Usually about £3,350 to £4,550 per square metre including VAT, which works out at around £35,000 to £55,000 for a typical side return before the kitchen.

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.

Who deals with the council for a project in Dorchester?

We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.

Also covering

Learn more about side return extensions, or see every project we cover in Dorchester.