Side return extensions across Greater London
If you live in Greater London and want more space without moving, a side return extension is one of the most practical ways to get it. We handle the drawings, approvals and the build.
- Guide priceFrom £23,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development; party wall notice usual
- Towns covered105
- Site visitFree, no obligation
Towns in Greater London
- Abbey Wood
- Acton
- Barking
- Barnes
- Barnet
- Battersea
- Beckenham
- Becontree
- Bethnal Green
- Bexley
- Blackheath
- Bow
- Brixton
- Brockley
- Camden Town
- Canning Town
- Carshalton
- Catford
- Chalk Farm
- Chelsea
- Chessington
- Chingford
- Chislehurst
- Chiswick
- Coulsdon
- Cricklewood
- Croydon
- Dagenham
- Earlsfield
- East Barnet
- Edmonton
- Eltham
- Enfield
- Enfield Lock
- Feltham
- Finchley
- Friern Barnet
- Fulham
- Golders Green
- Greenford
- Greenwich
- Hampton
- Hanworth
- Harlesden
- Harringay
- Harrow
- Hayes (Hillingdon)
- Heston
- Highbury
- Holloway
- Hook
- Hornchurch
- Hounslow
- Ilford
- Isleworth
- Kilburn
- Leytonstone
- Manor Park
- Mitcham
- Morden
- Muswell Hill
- New Cross
- New Malden
- Norbury
- Northolt
- Notting Hill
- Orpington
- Palmers Green
- Peckham
- Pinner
- Plumstead
- Ponders End
- Purley
- Putney
- Richmond
- Roehampton
- Romford
- Ruislip
- Shepherds Bush
- South Croydon
- South Norwood
- South Ruislip
- Southall
- Stamford Hill
- Stepney
- Stratford
- Streatham
- Surbiton
- Sutton
- Thamesmead
- Tooting
- Tottenham
- Upper Norwood
- Uxbridge
- Wallington
- Walthamstow
- Wealdstone
- Welling
- Wembley
- West Ham
- Willesden
- Wimbledon
- Wood Green
- Woodford Green
- Worcester Park
Do I need planning permission in Greater London?
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.
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).
Covering Greater London
Towns we cover in Greater London include Bexley, Barking, Sutton, Croydon, Ilford, Enfield, Harrow, Tottenham. 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.
Side return extension prices in Greater London
Prices below are for Greater London, using the London factor of ×1.3. They are guide ranges including VAT for the build only, not a quote.
Typical rates in Greater London: £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 |
Try the guide-price tool to see a range for your own size and finish.
Is a side return extension right for your house?
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces with a rear outrigger
- Homes where the garden is too small to lose much depth
- Narrow galley kitchens
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
It starts with a visit to your house to measure, check access and talk through ideas and budget.
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
The price is fixed in writing once the design is settled, with a clear programme and payment stages.
Build and sign-off
Our team builds the extension, keeps you updated weekly and finishes with building control sign-off.
Your questions about a side return extension in Greater London
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Greater London, 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 my neighbours in Greater London 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 you cover all of Greater London?
Yes, across the whole of Greater London. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
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.
How much does a side return extension cost?
Our guide range is about £2,730 to £4,940 per m² including VAT, so a typical 2 m × 5.5 m infill lands around £34,000 to £43,000 at standard spec in Greater London, more in London.
Book a free site visit in Greater London
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.