Side return extensions · Paignton

Side return extensions in Paignton

Homeowners in Paignton 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 Paignton

Alongside Paignton, we also cover Torquay, Newton Abbot (7 miles to the north) and Exmouth.

Homes in the South West

In the South West, matching local stone, render or slate is often the main design question, and conservation areas and listed buildings are common in historic towns.

What goes into a side return extension?

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
  • Structural steel to remove the side wall
  • Underfloor heating ready screed if wanted

What will a side return extension cost?

Indicative costs for side return extensions. London and the South East usually sit towards the top of each range.

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 Paignton?

In England we deal with the council’s planning team for permission or a lawful development certificate, with building control (the council or a registered building control approver) for inspections, and with neighbours under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 where it 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. 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.

From first call to completion

  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. 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

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.

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.

Can you visit a house in Paignton to quote?

Yes. After a short call we arrange a site visit to measure up and agree what the design needs to do, then send a written price.

Also covering

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

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