Bungalow extensions for homes in Dorchester
Thinking about a bungalow extension for your Dorchester home? Start with a free site visit: we measure up, check what the council will allow and give you honest guide figures on the day.
- Guide price in DorchesterFrom £26,500 inc VAT
- PlanningSingle storey often permitted development
- Build time10–18 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsDT1
How much does a bungalow extension cost in Dorchester?
Labour and material costs vary across the UK, so for Dorchester we use our South West England factor (×1.02). The ranges include VAT and exclude design, structural and council fees.
Typical rates in Dorchester: £1,780 to £3,470 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 m × 5 m 15 m² | £26,500 – £32,500 | £31,000 – £41,000 | £39,500 – £52,500 |
| 4 m × 6 m 24 m² | £42,500 – £51,500 | £50,000 – £65,000 | £63,500 – £83,500 |
| L-shape 35 m² | £62,000 – £75,000 | £73,000 – £95,000 | £92,500 – £121,500 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
Who a bungalow extension suits
- Families wanting more space on one floor
- Bungalows on larger plots
- Homeowners planning for later life
Extensions in and around Dorchester
Site visits are available across Dorchester (DT1). The same team covers Weymouth (7 miles), Bridport (15 miles), Poole (20 miles), Wimborne Minster (22 miles), all within easy reach.
In the South West, local stone, render and brick vary from town to town, so matching materials is a big part of designing an extension that looks right.
Planning and approvals in Dorchester
In England a single-storey extension to a bungalow follows the normal permitted development limits (3 m or 4 m, or 6 m and 8 m through prior approval). Adding a first floor always needs planning permission.
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.
Building regulations approval is separate from planning. In England you can use the council's building control team or a registered building control approver; a full plans application gets the drawings checked before work starts, and the inspector signs the work off with a completion certificate.
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 happens next
Site visits are free and there is no obligation. Where drawings are needed, the design stage is priced in writing before it starts.
Free site visit
We visit your Dorchester home, measure up, talk through what you want and check the planning position.
Design and approvals
We produce the drawings and structural design, and manage the approvals so they are in place before work starts.
Fixed written price
The price is fixed in writing once the design is settled, with a clear programme and payment stages.
Build and sign-off
Our team builds the extension, keeps you updated weekly and finishes with building control sign-off.
Common questions in Dorchester
Who do I contract with for a bungalow extension in Dorchester?
Your contract is with S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd, which designs and manages the project and the build teams who carry it out.
Do you cover all of Dorchester?
Yes. We cover Dorchester and the surrounding parts of Dorset. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
How long does a bungalow extension take to build in Dorchester?
On site, typically 10 to 18 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 6–14 weeks design and approvals.
Can I extend a bungalow without planning permission?
In England a single-storey rear extension to a bungalow follows the same permitted development limits as a house: 3 m or 4 m, or up to 6 m or 8 m through prior approval. Adding a storey always needs planning permission.
Is it better to extend sideways or upwards?
Sideways and rearwards is usually simpler, cheaper and keeps single-level living. Upwards saves garden but means stairs, more structure and planning permission.
Book a free site visit in Dorchester
We will measure up, check the planning position and give you honest guide figures.
- Free, no-obligation site visit
- Planning route checked before you spend on drawings
- Written price once the design is agreed
- Building control sign-off at the end
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6341 or .
Book a free site visit
Tell us a little about the project and we will arrange a time.