Nelson side return extensions, designed and built
Planning a side return extension in Nelson? 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 NelsonFrom £17,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development; party wall notice usual
- Build time10–14 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsBB8, BB9

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
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.
Do I need planning permission in Nelson?
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.
Homes in conservation areas, national parks, National Landscapes (formerly AONBs), the Broads and World Heritage Sites have tighter rules, so we always check the property's status and planning history before design starts.
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.
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.
Applications are decided by the local planning authority (your district, borough or unitary council).
Local to Nelson
Postcode districts we cover around Nelson include BB8, BB9. Nearby, we also take on projects in Colne (2 miles), Burnley (3 miles), Accrington (8 miles), Rawtenstall (10 miles).
Across the North West, terraced houses with small rear yards suit compact rear and side return extensions, while suburban semis have room for more.
Side return extension prices in Nelson
Labour and material costs vary across the UK, so for Nelson we use our North West England factor (×0.95). The ranges include VAT and exclude design, structural and council fees.
Typical rates in Nelson: £2,000 to £3,610 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 m × 4.5 m 8 m² | £17,000 – £20,500 | £18,000 – £23,000 | £22,500 – £29,000 |
| 2 m × 5.5 m 11 m² | £21,500 – £26,500 | £25,000 – £31,500 | £31,000 – £40,000 |
| 2.2 m × 7 m 15 m² | £29,500 – £36,000 | £34,000 – £43,000 | £42,500 – £54,500 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
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
It starts with a visit to your house to measure, check access and talk through ideas and budget.
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.
Common questions in Nelson
Do you cover all of Nelson?
Yes. We cover Nelson and the surrounding parts of Lancashire. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
Do I need building regulations approval in Nelson?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
Will my neighbours in Nelson 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 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 £2,000 to £3,610 per m² including VAT, so a typical 2 m × 5.5 m infill lands around £25,000 to £31,500 at standard spec in Nelson, more in London.
Book a free site visit in Nelson
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.