Extending your home in Becontree

Covering Becontree and nearby

Postcode districts we cover around Becontree include E20, IG3, RM6, RM8, RM9, RM10. Nearby, we also take on projects in Dagenham (2 miles), Barking (2 miles), Ilford (2 miles), Romford (3 miles), Thamesmead (3 miles). South Ockendon, in Essex, is roughly 7 miles from Becontree and also on our list.

• Dagenham
• Barking
• Ilford
• Romford
• Thamesmead

Popular extension prices in Becontree

We publish guide prices so you can budget before anyone visits. For Becontree they are adjusted by ×1.3, the factor we use across London.

Planning and building control in Becontree

In England a single-storey rear extension can usually go up to 3 m beyond the original rear wall of a semi-detached or terraced house, or 4 m on a detached house, without a planning application, provided it is no more than 4 m high, keeps eaves to 3 m within 2 m of a boundary and, with other buildings, covers no more than half the land around the original house. The larger home extension prior approval scheme raises those depths to 6 m and 8 m, with neighbours notified and a 42-day decision.

In England a two-storey rear extension is permitted development only if it projects no more than 3 m from the original rear wall, sits at least 7 m from the rear boundary, matches the roof pitch and uses obscure, non-opening side windows upstairs. Most two-storey extensions therefore go through a householder planning application, which costs £548 from 1 April 2026 and normally takes about 8 weeks.

In a conservation area, national park, National Landscape, the Broads or a World Heritage Site the permitted development limits are tighter (no side or two-storey extensions without an application). Listed homes need listed building consent, and if permitted development rights have been removed, any extension needs an application.

If the work involves a shared wall, building on the boundary, or digging foundations within 3 m (sometimes 6 m) of a neighbour's building, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notice must be served before work starts: two months for work to a party wall, one month for new walls on the boundary and for excavations.

Applications are decided by the local planning authority (your district, borough or unitary council).

What works best for Becontree houses?

In London, space is at a premium and gardens are often short, so side returns, wraparounds and carefully planned rear extensions tend to make the most of every metre.

For many houses here, wraparound extensions, kitchen extensions or glass box extensions gives the most useful space for the budget.