Side extensions for homes in Reading
We design and build side extensions for houses in Reading, with a written price once the survey and design are done and one point of contact throughout.
- Guide price in ReadingFrom £24,500 inc VAT
- PlanningSingle storey can be permitted development
- Build time10–18 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsRG1, RG2, RG4, RG5, RG6
Covering Reading
Across RG1, RG2, RG4, RG5, RG6, RG30, we can visit, measure and advise. The same team covers Earley (3 miles), Wokingham (7 miles), Crowthorne (10 miles), Bracknell (10 miles), all within easy reach.
Henley-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire, is roughly 6 miles from Reading and also on our list. Homes across the South East range from Victorian terraces in the older town centres to large detached houses on the edges, so the right extension type varies street by street.
Who a side extension suits
- Houses where the rear garden is small
- Homes needing a utility, study or ground-floor bedroom
- Detached and semi-detached houses with side land
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.
Side extension prices in Reading
Labour and material costs vary across the UK, so for Reading we use our South East England factor (×1.12). The ranges include VAT and exclude design, structural and council fees.
Typical rates in Reading: £1,960 to £3,810 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 m × 5 m 12 m² | £24,500 – £30,000 | £27,500 – £36,000 | £34,500 – £46,000 |
| 3 m × 6 m 18 m² | £35,000 – £42,500 | £41,000 – £53,500 | £52,000 – £69,000 |
| 3 m × 8 m 24 m² | £47,000 – £56,500 | £55,000 – £71,500 | £69,500 – £91,500 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
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.
Before any drawing is finalised we check whether the house is listed, in a conservation area or subject to an Article 4 direction.
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).
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
First, a site visit: we look at the house, garden, access and drains and listen to what you need.
Design and approvals
Drawings are prepared and agreed with you, then submitted for the right planning route and building regulations approval.
Fixed written price
With the design and specification agreed, you get a fixed written price and a start date.
Build and sign-off
Work is carried out to the agreed programme, inspected by building control and signed off at the end.
Questions people ask about side extensions
Do I need building regulations approval in Reading?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
How long does a side extension take to build in Reading?
On site, typically 10 to 18 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 6–14 weeks design and approvals.
Do you cover all of Reading?
Yes. We cover Reading and the surrounding parts of Berkshire. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
How much does a side extension cost?
Our guide range is about £1,960 to £3,810 per m² including VAT, depending on specification, so a standard 18 m² single-storey side extension lands around £41,000 to £53,500 in Reading.
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 Reading
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.