Side return extensions in Hitchin: design, approvals and build
Hitchin 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 HitchinFrom £19,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development; party wall notice usual
- Build time10–14 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsSG4, SG5
Local to Hitchin
We cover Hitchin and the postcode districts SG4, SG5. Nearby, we also take on projects in Letchworth Garden City (3 miles), Stevenage (5 miles), Harpenden (10 miles), Welwyn Garden City (11 miles).
For homes towards Bedfordshire, Luton is around 7 miles away. Across the East of England many houses sit on generous plots, and single-storey and wraparound extensions are a natural fit.
When a side return extension makes sense
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces with a rear outrigger
- Narrow galley kitchens
- 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.
How much does a side return extension cost in Hitchin?
Labour and material costs vary across the UK, so for Hitchin we use our East of England factor (×1.06). The ranges include VAT and exclude design, structural and council fees.
Typical rates in Hitchin: £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 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
Planning rules that apply in Hitchin
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 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).
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
First, a site visit: we look at the house, garden, access and drains and listen to what you need.
Design and approvals
We draw the design, agree it with you and handle planning or permitted development checks and building regulations.
Fixed written price
With the design and specification agreed, you get a fixed written price and a start date.
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 Hitchin
How long does a side return extension take to build in Hitchin?
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 Hitchin?
Yes. We cover Hitchin and the surrounding parts of Hertfordshire. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
Who do I contract with for a side return extension in Hitchin?
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 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.
How much does a side return extension cost?
Our guide range is about £2,230 to £4,030 per m² including VAT, so a typical 2 m × 5.5 m infill lands around £27,500 to £35,000 at standard spec in Hitchin, more in London.
Book a free site visit in Hitchin
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.