Side return extensions · Henley-on-Thames

Side return extensions in Henley-on-Thames

Homeowners in Henley-on-Thames can get side return extensions from one company: the design, the paperwork and the building work sit with us rather than with three separate firms.

Covering Henley-on-Thames

We work in Henley-on-Thames (RG9) and the places around it, including Reading, Maidenhead and Wokingham.

Homes in the South East

The South East has a lot of 1930s and post-war semi-detached housing, well suited to rear extensions and hip-to-gable loft conversions, alongside period properties in conservation areas that need a more careful design.

What is included in a side return extension in Henley-on-Thames?

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.

  • Glazed or solid roof with rooflights
  • Underfloor heating ready screed if wanted
  • 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 extensionsGuide 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 Henley-on-Thames?

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 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.
  • Glazed roofs need careful detailing against the neighbour’s wall.

What happens after I enquire?

  1. Tell us about the project. Call, use the guide price tool or send the form with a few photos and a postcode.
  2. Survey at your house. We look at the existing structure, services and access, and agree what the design needs to achieve.
  3. Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
  4. We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.

Your questions answered

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 Henley-on-Thames?

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 Henley-on-Thames.

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