Side return extensions · Northampton

Side return extensions in Northampton

From the first site visit to the final building control sign-off, we manage side return extensions in Northampton so you only have one company to deal with.

Covering Northampton

Our coverage around Northampton (NN1) also includes Wellingborough, Towcester and Daventry.

Homes in the East Midlands

The East Midlands combines red-brick terraces in the cities with a lot of post-war and modern estate housing, so rear extensions, garage conversions and loft conversions are all common.

What goes into 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.

  • Party wall notices and surveyor liaison
  • Underfloor heating ready screed if wanted
  • Plastering and making good to the old house

What is the guide price for a side return extension in Northampton?

Guide prices for side return extensions, including VAT where it applies. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing after the survey.

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

Planning and building rules in Northampton

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?

  • Access is often through the house, so we plan deliveries and protect floors.
  • Many terraces sit in conservation areas, where side extensions need planning permission.

What are the steps?

  1. Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
  2. We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
  3. Design and fixed price. You get drawings and a written price for the agreed specification before anything is ordered.
  4. Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.

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.

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 do I get a price for side return extensions in Northampton?

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

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

Planning an extension, loft or new home?

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