Bungalow extensions for homes in Essex
Thinking about a bungalow extension for your Essex 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 priceFrom £27,500 inc VAT
- PlanningSingle storey often permitted development
- Towns covered21
- Site visitFree, no obligation
Towns in Essex
Will the council need to approve it?
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.
Applications are decided by the local planning authority (your district, borough or unitary council).
When a bungalow extension makes sense
- Bungalows on larger plots
- Families wanting more space on one floor
- Homeowners planning for later life
Bungalow roofs are often hipped, which makes tying in an extension roof a careful job. We draw the roof junction early because it drives both the look and the cost.
Covering Essex
Towns we cover in Essex include Southend-on-Sea, Basildon, Colchester, Chelmsford, Harlow, Grays, Braintree, Brentwood. Across the East of England many houses sit on generous plots, and single-storey and wraparound extensions are a natural fit.
How much does a bungalow extension cost in Essex?
These guide figures apply our East of England adjustment (×1.06) to national rates. They include VAT at 20% and cover the build itself; design and council fees are listed separately.
Typical rates in Essex: £1,860 to £3,600 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 m × 5 m 15 m² | £27,500 – £33,500 | £32,500 – £42,500 | £41,000 – £54,500 |
| 4 m × 6 m 24 m² | £44,500 – £53,500 | £52,000 – £67,500 | £66,000 – £86,500 |
| L-shape 35 m² | £64,500 – £78,000 | £76,000 – £98,500 | £96,000 – £126,500 |
Want a range for your exact size? The guide-price tool takes about a minute.
How the project works
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
It starts with a visit to your house to measure, check access and talk through ideas and budget.
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
We confirm the build price in writing, based on the approved drawings and the finishes you have chosen.
Build and sign-off
Our team builds the extension, keeps you updated weekly and finishes with building control sign-off.
Bungalow extension questions answered
Who do I contract with for a bungalow extension in Essex?
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.
Will my neighbours in Essex be involved?
If a planning application or prior approval is needed, the council notifies neighbours. If the work is on or near a shared boundary, party wall notices may also be needed.
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Essex, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
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.
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.
Book a free site visit in Essex
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.