Side return extensions for homes in Eastbourne
Planning a side return extension in Eastbourne? We survey the house, work out the planning route, draw the design and build it, so you deal with one team from the first visit to the completion certificate.
- Guide price in EastbourneFrom £20,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development; party wall notice usual
- Build time10–14 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsBN20, BN21, BN22, BN23, BN24

How much does a side return extension cost in Eastbourne?
Prices below are for Eastbourne, using the South East England factor of ×1.12. They are guide ranges including VAT for the build only, not a quote.
Typical rates in Eastbourne: £2,350 to £4,260 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 m × 4.5 m 8 m² | £20,000 – £24,000 | £21,500 – £27,000 | £26,500 – £34,500 |
| 2 m × 5.5 m 11 m² | £25,500 – £31,000 | £29,500 – £37,000 | £36,500 – £47,000 |
| 2.2 m × 7 m 15 m² | £35,000 – £42,500 | £40,000 – £50,500 | £50,000 – £64,000 |
Try the guide-price tool to see a range for your own size and finish.
Who a side return extension suits
- Narrow galley kitchens
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces with a rear outrigger
- Homes where the garden is too small to lose much depth
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.
Planning rules that apply in Eastbourne
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.
Before any drawing is finalised we check whether the house is listed, in a conservation area or subject to an Article 4 direction.
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.
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).
Covering Eastbourne
Postcode districts we cover around Eastbourne include BN20, BN21, BN22, BN23, BN24, BN26. We also work in nearby Hailsham (7 miles), Seaford (8 miles), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles), Peacehaven (13 miles).
For homes towards West Sussex, Burgess Hill is around 22 miles away. The South East has a broad mix of 1930s semis, post-war estates, newer developments and period cottages, and many houses have enough garden for a generous rear extension.
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
We visit your Eastbourne home, measure up, talk through what you want and check the planning position.
Design and approvals
We draw the design, agree it with you and handle planning or permitted development checks and building regulations.
Fixed written price
You receive a written, itemised price and programme. Nothing starts until you are happy with it.
Build and sign-off
The build is managed from start to finish, inspected at each stage and signed off on completion.
Common questions in Eastbourne
Will my neighbours in Eastbourne 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.
Who do I contract with for a side return extension in Eastbourne?
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 you cover all of Eastbourne?
Yes. We cover Eastbourne and the surrounding parts of East Sussex. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
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.
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.
Book a free site visit in Eastbourne
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.