Side return extensions for homes in Birmingham
Thinking about a side return extension for your Birmingham home? Start with a free site visit: we measure up, check what the council will allow and give you honest guide figures on the day.
- Guide price in BirminghamFrom £17,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development; party wall notice usual
- Build time10–14 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsB1, B2, B3, B4, B5

Will the council need to approve it?
In England a single-storey side return infill is often permitted development if it stays within the height limits and is no wider than half the width of the original house. Conservation areas, listed buildings and flats always need an application, and the boundary wall usually brings in the Party Wall Act.
The planning position for a specific Birmingham address depends on its history and any designations, which is why we check it at the first visit.
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 Birmingham
We cover Birmingham and the postcode districts B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B19. We also work in nearby Smethwick (3 miles), West Bromwich (5 miles), Shirley (6 miles), Halesowen (7 miles).
Bromsgrove, in Worcestershire, is roughly 12 miles from Birmingham and also on our list. Across the West Midlands, brick-built semis with long gardens are common, so single-storey and two-storey rear extensions are popular choices.
What we take care of
- Survey of the outrigger, boundary wall and drainage
- Removal of the side wall and new steelwork
- Glazed, sloping or flat roof with rooflights
- Design to keep daylight in the middle of the house
- Party wall notice support (England and Wales)
- New boundary wall or raised party wall
Guide prices for Birmingham
Labour and material costs vary across the UK, so for Birmingham we use our West Midlands factor (×0.97). The ranges include VAT and exclude design, structural and council fees.
Typical rates in Birmingham: £2,040 to £3,690 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 m × 4.5 m 8 m² | £17,000 – £21,000 | £18,500 – £23,500 | £23,000 – £29,500 |
| 2 m × 5.5 m 11 m² | £22,000 – £27,000 | £25,500 – £32,500 | £32,000 – £41,000 |
| 2.2 m × 7 m 15 m² | £30,500 – £36,500 | £34,500 – £44,000 | £43,500 – £55,500 |
Try the guide-price tool to see a range for your own size and finish.
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
We produce the drawings and structural design, and manage the approvals so they are in place before work starts.
Fixed written price
With the design and specification agreed, you get a fixed written price and a start date.
Build and sign-off
Our team builds the extension, keeps you updated weekly and finishes with building control sign-off.
Common questions in Birmingham
Do you cover all of Birmingham?
Yes. We cover Birmingham and the surrounding parts of West Midlands. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
How long does a side return extension take to build in Birmingham?
On site, typically 10 to 14 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 6–12 weeks design and approvals.
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Birmingham, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
How much does a side return extension cost?
Our guide range is about £2,040 to £3,690 per m² including VAT, so a typical 2 m × 5.5 m infill lands around £25,500 to £32,500 at standard spec in Birmingham, more in London.
Will the kitchen be darker?
Not if the roof is designed well. A glazed roof or a line of rooflights along the boundary usually makes the room brighter than before.
Book a free site visit in Birmingham
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.