Side extensions across Houghton-le-Spring
Our design and build teams take on side extensions in Houghton-le-Spring, from the first measured survey through planning and building control to the finished room.
- Guide price in Houghton-le-SpringFrom £20,000 inc VAT
- PlanningSingle storey can be permitted development
- Build time10–18 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsDH4, DH5
Guide prices for Houghton-le-Spring
These guide figures apply our North East England adjustment (×0.91) to national rates. They include VAT at 20% and cover the build itself; design and council fees are listed separately.
Typical rates in Houghton-le-Spring: £1,590 to £3,090 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 m × 5 m 12 m² | £20,000 – £24,500 | £22,000 – £29,000 | £28,000 – £37,500 |
| 3 m × 6 m 18 m² | £28,500 – £34,500 | £33,500 – £43,500 | £42,500 – £56,000 |
| 3 m × 8 m 24 m² | £38,000 – £46,000 | £44,500 – £58,000 | £56,500 – £74,500 |
Want a range for your exact size? The guide-price tool takes about a minute.
What is included
- Planning route checked or application made
- New openings through the side wall
- Windows, doors and finishes to match
- Structure, roof tied into the house
- Foundations near boundaries and any drains
Councils often prefer side extensions to sit slightly back from the front of the house with a lower roof, so the original building still reads clearly. We design to those principles from the start to avoid redesigns.
Will the council need to approve it?
In England a single-storey side extension can be permitted development if it is no more than 4 m high and no wider than half the width of the original house. Two-storey side extensions, and any side extension on designated land such as a conservation area, need a householder planning application.
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.
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).
Covering Houghton-le-Spring
Site visits are available across Houghton-le-Spring (DH4, DH5). We also work in nearby Washington (5 miles), Sunderland (6 miles), Felling (9 miles), Hebburn (9 miles).
Across the North East, houses often have rear yards or modest gardens, so compact, well-lit single-storey extensions make the biggest difference.
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
We visit your Houghton-le-Spring home, measure up, talk through what you want and check the planning position.
Design and approvals
We draw the design, agree it with you and handle planning or permitted development checks and building regulations.
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.
Side extension questions answered
Do you cover all of Houghton-le-Spring?
Yes. We cover Houghton-le-Spring and the surrounding parts of Tyne and Wear. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
How long does a side extension take to build in Houghton-le-Spring?
On site, typically 10 to 18 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 6–14 weeks design and approvals.
Will my neighbours in Houghton-le-Spring 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 much does a side extension cost?
Our guide range is about £1,590 to £3,090 per m² including VAT, depending on specification, so a standard 18 m² single-storey side extension lands around £33,500 to £43,500 in Houghton-le-Spring.
Can I build over my driveway?
Yes, if the foundations work and you keep any parking the council requires. Drains and services under drives are common, so we check before design.
Book a free site visit in Houghton-le-Spring
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.