Covering Finchley
Finchley sits 7 miles north-west of London, with Muswell Hill 2 miles to the east and Cricklewood 3 miles to the south.
Homes in London
London projects often mean working on period terraces with neighbours on both sides, tight access through the house and conservation area controls, so careful planning and party wall work matter as much as the build.
What do you get with a side return extension?
Side returns are small in area but heavy in detail: party walls, a glazed roof, and steelwork to take out the original back wall. We design the roof for light and drainage, agree the party wall process early, and keep the work tidy because access is often through the house.
- Structural steel to remove the side wall
- Glazed or solid roof with rooflights
- Drainage and new gully positions
What will a side return extension cost?
What side return extensions typically cost. These are guide ranges; the written quote for your house replaces them.
| 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 Finchley
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. Deeper extensions, up to 6 m or 8 m, need prior approval from the council first.
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.
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.
- Survey at your house. We look at the existing structure, services and access, and agree what the design needs to achieve.
- 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
Does a side return need planning permission?
In England it can be permitted development if it is single storey, no higher than 4 m and no wider than half the original house. Conservation areas are the main exception.
How long does a side return take?
About 10 to 14 weeks on site.
Who deals with the council for a project in Finchley?
We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.
Side return extensions in nearby towns
- Side return extensions in Muswell Hill
- Side return extensions in Cricklewood
- Side return extensions in Kilburn
- Side return extensions in Wood Green
Learn more about side return extensions, or see every project we cover in Finchley.