Side return extensions for homes in Harlow
A side return extension in Harlow starts with the right design and the right approval route. We take care of both, then build it with our own project management.
- Guide price in HarlowFrom £19,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development; party wall notice usual
- Build time10–14 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsCM17, CM18, CM19, CM20
What should I budget for a side return extension in Harlow?
For Harlow we adjust our national guide rates by ×1.06, the factor we use for East of England. Figures include VAT; your written quote after the survey replaces them.
Typical rates in Harlow: £2,230 to £4,030 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 m × 4.5 m 8 m² | £19,000 – £23,000 | £20,000 – £25,500 | £25,000 – £32,500 |
| 2 m × 5.5 m 11 m² | £24,000 – £29,500 | £27,500 – £35,000 | £34,500 – £44,500 |
| 2.2 m × 7 m 15 m² | £33,000 – £40,000 | £38,000 – £48,000 | £47,500 – £60,500 |
Try the guide-price tool to see a range for your own size and finish.
Working in Harlow
We cover Harlow and the postcode districts CM17, CM18, CM19, CM20. Nearby, we also take on projects in Waltham Abbey (8 miles), Brentwood (14 miles), Chelmsford (16 miles), Billericay (17 miles).
Just over the Hertfordshire border, Hoddesdon is about 5 miles away. Across the East of England many houses sit on generous plots, and single-storey and wraparound extensions are a natural fit.
Planning rules that apply in Harlow
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 Harlow address depends on its history and any designations, which is why we check it at the first visit.
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).
Is a side return extension right for your house?
- Homes where the garden is too small to lose much depth
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces with a rear outrigger
- Narrow galley kitchens
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 Harlow 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
The price is fixed in writing once the design is settled, with a clear programme and payment stages.
Build and sign-off
The build is managed from start to finish, inspected at each stage and signed off on completion.
Questions people ask about side return extensions
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Harlow, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
How long does a side return extension take to build in Harlow?
On site, typically 10 to 14 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 6–12 weeks design and approvals.
Do you cover all of Harlow?
Yes. We cover Harlow and the surrounding parts of Essex. 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.
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.
Book a free site visit in Harlow
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.