Side return extensions for homes in Chippenham
Thinking about a side return extension for your Chippenham 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 ChippenhamFrom £18,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development; party wall notice usual
- Build time10–14 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsSN15

Working in Chippenham
We cover Chippenham and the postcode districts SN15. The same team covers Calne (6 miles), Melksham (6 miles), Trowbridge (10 miles), Devizes (10 miles), all within easy reach.
For homes towards Somerset, Bath is around 12 miles away. In the South West, local stone, render and brick vary from town to town, so matching materials is a big part of designing an extension that looks right.
Planning rules that apply in Chippenham
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.
Homes in conservation areas, national parks, National Landscapes (formerly AONBs), the Broads and World Heritage Sites have tighter rules, so we always check the property's status and planning history before design starts.
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).
How much does a side return extension cost in Chippenham?
Prices below are for Chippenham, using the South West England factor of ×1.02. They are guide ranges including VAT for the build only, not a quote.
Typical rates in Chippenham: £2,140 to £3,880 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 m × 4.5 m 8 m² | £18,000 – £22,000 | £19,500 – £24,500 | £24,000 – £31,500 |
| 2 m × 5.5 m 11 m² | £23,500 – £28,500 | £26,500 – £34,000 | £33,500 – £43,000 |
| 2.2 m × 7 m 15 m² | £32,000 – £38,500 | £36,500 – £46,000 | £45,500 – £58,500 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
What we take care of
- Design to keep daylight in the middle of the house
- Kitchen-ready shell or full finish
- Party wall notice support (England and Wales)
- Survey of the outrigger, boundary wall and drainage
- Glazed, sloping or flat roof with rooflights
Light is the design problem. A side return can make the middle of the house darker if the roof is solid, so we model the daylight and usually recommend a glazed slope or a run of rooflights along the boundary edge.
How the project works
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
A designer visits, takes measurements and photos, and discusses layouts, budget and timing with you.
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
Our team builds the extension, keeps you updated weekly and finishes with building control sign-off.
Side return extension questions answered
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Chippenham, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
Do you cover all of Chippenham?
Yes. We cover Chippenham and the surrounding parts of Wiltshire. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
How long does a side return extension take to build in Chippenham?
On site, typically 10 to 14 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 6–12 weeks design and approvals.
Can I combine a side return with a rear extension?
Yes. That combination is a wraparound extension, which adds the most space to a terraced house.
Do side return extensions need planning permission?
In England many single-storey side returns fit within permitted development if they stay within the height limits and are no wider than half the width of the original house. Conservation areas, listed buildings and flats need an application. Other UK nations have their own rules, which we check.
Book a free site visit in Chippenham
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.