Building regulations for extensions across Orpington
For Orpington homeowners we handle building regulations for extensions, with fees agreed in writing before any work starts.
- Guide price in OrpingtonFrom £1,150 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsBR5, BR6
Included in a typical project
- Submission to the council or a registered building control approver
- Building regulations drawings and written specification
- Structural calculations for beams, lintels and foundations
- Completion certificate on sign-off
- Inspection bookings throughout the build
- Energy and glazing checks, including whole-house calculations if needed
Covering Orpington
Site visits are available across Orpington (BR5, BR6). The same team covers Chislehurst (3 miles), Bexley (5 miles), Eltham (6 miles), Beckenham (6 miles), all within easy reach.
For homes towards Kent, Swanley is around 4 miles away. Across London, terraced houses with narrow side returns and tight access are the norm, which shapes everything from party wall notices to how materials reach the back garden.
Fees in Orpington
These are guide fees for Orpington, adjusted for London (×1.3) and including VAT. Council application and inspection fees are paid separately.
| Option | What it covers | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Building regulations drawings for a simple single-storey extension | £1,150 – £2,350 |
| Standard | Drawings plus structural calculations | £1,650 – £3,400 |
| Premium | Complex or two-storey pack with energy calculations | £2,850 – £4,950 |
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.
Try the guide-price tool to see a range for your own size and finish.
Planning rules that apply in Orpington
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.
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 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.
Applications are decided by the local planning authority (your district, borough or unitary council).
From first visit to completion
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
Once the layout is agreed, we deal with the council: planning permission or written confirmation that none is needed, plus building control.
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
The build is managed from start to finish, inspected at each stage and signed off on completion.
Questions answered
Do you cover all of Orpington?
Yes. We cover Orpington and the surrounding parts of Greater London. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
Will my neighbours in Orpington 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 Orpington home?
2–5 weeks for drawings, depending on the council and the complexity of the project.
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.
Who are building control?
Either your local council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Both inspect the work and issue the completion certificate.
Book a free site visit in Orpington
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.