Side return extensions in Fulham: design, approvals and build
Fulham homeowners can use us for the whole side return extension project: survey, design, planning or permitted development checks, building regulations and the build itself.
- Guide price in FulhamFrom £23,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development; party wall notice usual
- Build time10–14 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsSW5, SW6, SW10, W6, W8
What is included
- Survey of the outrigger, boundary wall and drainage
- Glazed, sloping or flat roof with rooflights
- New boundary wall or raised party wall
- Removal of the side wall and new steelwork
- Party wall notice support (England and Wales)
- Kitchen-ready shell or full finish
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.
Extensions in and around Fulham
Across SW5, SW6, SW10, W6, W8, W14, we can visit, measure and advise. Nearby, we also take on projects in Chelsea (1 mile), Putney (2 miles), Battersea (2 miles), Shepherds Bush (2 miles).
For homes towards Surrey, East Molesey is around 9 miles away. Across London, terraced houses with narrow side returns and tight access are the norm, which shapes everything from party wall notices to how materials reach the back garden.
Planning and approvals in Fulham
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 Fulham 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.
If the work involves a shared wall, building on the boundary, or digging foundations within 3 m (sometimes 6 m) of a neighbour's building, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notice must be served before work starts: two months for work to a party wall, one month for new walls on the boundary and for excavations.
Applications are decided by the local planning authority (your district, borough or unitary council).
Side return extension prices in Fulham
For Fulham we adjust our national guide rates by ×1.3, the factor we use for London. Figures include VAT; your written quote after the survey replaces them.
Typical rates in Fulham: £2,730 to £4,940 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 m × 4.5 m 8 m² | £23,000 – £28,000 | £24,500 – £31,500 | £31,000 – £40,000 |
| 2 m × 5.5 m 11 m² | £30,000 – £36,000 | £34,000 – £43,000 | £42,500 – £54,500 |
| 2.2 m × 7 m 15 m² | £40,500 – £49,000 | £46,500 – £58,500 | £58,500 – £74,500 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
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
We confirm the build price in writing, based on the approved drawings and the finishes you have chosen.
Build and sign-off
Our team builds the extension, keeps you updated weekly and finishes with building control sign-off.
Questions people ask about side return extensions
Will my neighbours in Fulham 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.
Do I need building regulations approval in Fulham?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
Do you cover all of Fulham?
Yes. We cover Fulham and the surrounding parts of Greater London. 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 Fulham
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.