Building regulations for extensions in Durham
We prepare building regulations for extensions for homes in Durham, as a stand-alone service or as the first stage of a design and build project.
- Guide price in DurhamFrom £800 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsDH1
Working in Durham
Our survey diary covers Durham, including DH1. We also work in nearby Chester-le-Street (6 miles), Stanley (8 miles), Bishop Auckland (9 miles), Peterlee (10 miles).
For homes towards Tyne and Wear, Houghton-le-Spring is around 6 miles away. The North East has many brick terraces, colliery-era housing and post-war semis, with rear extensions and kitchen extensions the most common requests.
Planning rules that apply in Durham
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.
Homes in conservation areas, national parks, National Landscapes (formerly AONBs), the Broads and World Heritage Sites have tighter rules, so we always check the property's status and planning history before design starts.
Building over or within 3 m of a public sewer needs the water company's consent, usually through a build-over agreement, before the foundations go in.
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).
Who this service is for
- Homeowners using their own builder who need the drawings
- Every extension, whatever the planning route
- Glass-heavy designs that need energy calculations
What it costs in Durham
Guide fees for Durham including VAT, using our North East England factor of ×0.91. Council and building control charges are not included.
| Option | What it covers | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Building regulations drawings for a simple single-storey extension | £800 – £1,650 |
| Standard | Drawings plus structural calculations | £1,150 – £2,400 |
| Premium | Complex or two-storey pack with energy calculations | £2,000 – £3,500 |
Our design fee only. Building control charges are set by your council (or, in England and Wales, a registered building control approver) and quoted separately.
Want a range for your exact size? The guide-price tool takes about a minute.
Our process, step by step
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
First, a site visit: we look at the house, garden, access and drains and listen to what you need.
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
You receive a written, itemised price and programme. Nothing starts until you are happy with it.
Build and sign-off
Work is carried out to the agreed programme, inspected by building control and signed off at the end.
Questions answered
Will my neighbours in Durham 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.
How long does this take for a Durham home?
2–5 weeks for drawings, depending on the council and the complexity of the project.
Who do I contract with in Durham?
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.
What are the insulation standards for an extension?
In England, new walls in an extension should achieve a U-value of 0.18 W/m²K, roofs 0.15 and floors 0.18, with windows at 1.4 and rooflights at 2.2. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own figures.
Full plans or building notice?
A full plans application gets the drawings checked before work starts, which we usually recommend for extensions. A building notice is quicker to submit but carries more risk if something needs changing on site.
Book a free site visit in Durham
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.