Covering Stevenage
Stevenage is about 12 miles north-east of St Albans. We also cover Hitchin (5 miles to the north-west), Letchworth Garden City and Welwyn Garden City.
Homes in the East of England
The East of England has a large stock of post-war and modern estate housing alongside period homes in market towns, which makes garage conversions, single-storey extensions and loft conversions popular.
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.
- Party wall notices and surveyor liaison
- Structural steel to remove the side wall
- Drainage and new gully positions
What is the guide price for a side return extension in Stevenage?
Indicative costs for side return extensions. London and the South East usually sit towards the top of each range.
| 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 Stevenage
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. Deeper extensions, up to 6 m or 8 m, need prior approval from the council first.
What should Stevenage homeowners check first?
- Most side returns touch a shared boundary, so the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 usually applies in England and Wales.
- Many terraces sit in conservation areas, where side extensions need planning permission.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
How long does a side return take?
About 10 to 14 weeks on site.
Can you visit a house in Stevenage 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
- Side return extensions in Hitchin
- Side return extensions in Letchworth Garden City
- Side return extensions in Welwyn Garden City
- Side return extensions in Harpenden
Learn more about side return extensions, or see every project we cover in Stevenage.