Covering Lancashire
Our side return extensions service in Lancashire covers Preston, Burnley, Blackburn and Blackpool and more.
Homes in the North West
The North West has long rows of Victorian terraced houses in its towns and cities, alongside inter-war semis and post-war estates, so rear extensions, dormer lofts and kitchen extensions are common projects.
What does a side return extension involve?
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.
- Party wall notices and surveyor liaison
- Structural steel to remove the side wall
- Glazed or solid roof with rooflights
How much should I budget for a side return extension?
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 Lancashire
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 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 are the steps?
- 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.
- Price and paperwork. The design is priced line by line, and we submit the planning and building control applications.
- Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.
What people ask before starting
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.
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 Lancashire?
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 Preston
- Side return extensions in Burnley
- Side return extensions in Blackburn
- Side return extensions in Blackpool
- Side return extensions in Morecambe
- Side return extensions in Lancaster
- Side return extensions in Lytham St Annes
- Side return extensions in Skelmersdale
- Side return extensions in Leyland
- Side return extensions in Accrington
- Side return extensions in Chorley
- Side return extensions in Darwen
- Side return extensions in Thornton-Cleveleys
- Side return extensions in Nelson
- Side return extensions in Fleetwood
- Side return extensions in Ormskirk
- Side return extensions in Rawtenstall
Learn more about side return extensions, or see every project we cover in Lancashire.