Side return extensions across Christchurch
Our design and build teams take on side return extensions in Christchurch, from the first measured survey through planning and building control to the finished room.
- Guide price in ChristchurchFrom £18,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development; party wall notice usual
- Build time10–14 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsBH5, BH6, BH7, BH23
Who a side return extension suits
- Narrow galley kitchens
- Homes where the garden is too small to lose much depth
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces with a rear outrigger
Extensions in and around Christchurch
Postcode districts we cover around Christchurch include BH5, BH6, BH7, BH23. The same team covers Bournemouth (4 miles), Ferndown (7 miles), Poole (9 miles), Wimborne Minster (10 miles), all within easy reach.
New Milton, in Hampshire, is roughly 5 miles from Christchurch and also on our list. South West homes range from terraced streets in the cities to stone cottages and bungalows in the countryside, and conservation areas are common in historic centres.
How much does a side return extension cost in Christchurch?
These guide figures apply our South West England adjustment (×1.02) to national rates. They include VAT at 20% and cover the build itself; design and council fees are listed separately.
Typical rates in Christchurch: £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 |
Want a range for your exact size? The guide-price tool takes about a minute.
Planning and approvals in Christchurch
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.
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 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
We visit your Christchurch home, measure up, talk through what you want and check the planning position.
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
We confirm the build price in writing, based on the approved drawings and the finishes you have chosen.
Build and sign-off
The build is managed from start to finish, inspected at each stage and signed off on completion.
Your questions about a side return extension in Christchurch
How long does a side return extension take to build in Christchurch?
On site, typically 10 to 14 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 6–12 weeks design and approvals.
Will my neighbours in Christchurch 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 see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Christchurch, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
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.
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 Christchurch
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.