Side extensions in Sunderland
If you live in Sunderland and want more space without moving, a side extension is one of the most practical ways to get it. We handle the drawings, approvals and the build.
- Guide price in SunderlandFrom £20,000 inc VAT
- PlanningSingle storey can be permitted development
- Build time10–18 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsSR1, SR2, SR4, SR5, SR6
Guide prices for Sunderland
Prices below are for Sunderland, using the North East England factor of ×0.91. They are guide ranges including VAT for the build only, not a quote.
Typical rates in Sunderland: £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
- New openings through the side wall
- Windows, doors and finishes to match
- Foundations near boundaries and any drains
- Survey, design and street-view drawings
- Planning route checked or application made
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.
Planning rules that apply in Sunderland
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.
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.
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).
Working in Sunderland
We cover Sunderland and the postcode districts SR1, SR2, SR4, SR5, SR6, SR9. The same team covers Washington (5 miles), Houghton-le-Spring (6 miles), Jarrow (7 miles), South Shields (7 miles), all within easy reach.
Seaham, in County Durham, is roughly 5 miles from Sunderland and also on our list. The North East has many brick terraces, colliery-era housing and post-war semis, with rear extensions and kitchen extensions the most common requests.
What happens next
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
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 people ask about side extensions
Who do I contract with for a side extension in Sunderland?
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.
Do I need building regulations approval in Sunderland?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
Will my neighbours in Sunderland 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 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.
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 Sunderland.
Book a free site visit in Sunderland
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.