Side return extensions in Stepney: design, approvals and build
We design and build side return extensions for houses in Stepney, with a written price once the survey and design are done and one point of contact throughout.
- Guide price in StepneyFrom £23,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development; party wall notice usual
- Build time10–14 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsE1W, E1, E2, E3, E14
What we take care of
- Glazed, sloping or flat roof with rooflights
- New boundary wall or raised party wall
- Removal of the side wall and new steelwork
- Design to keep daylight in the middle of the house
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.
Side return extension prices in Stepney
Prices below are for Stepney, using the London factor of ×1.3. They are guide ranges including VAT for the build only, not a quote.
Typical rates in Stepney: £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.
Planning and approvals in Stepney
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.
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.
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).
Working in Stepney
Site visits are available across Stepney (E1W, E1, E2, E3, E14, SE16). Nearby, we also take on projects in Bethnal Green (1 mile), Bow (1 mile), Stratford (2 miles), Canning Town (3 miles).
Waltham Abbey, in Essex, is roughly 12 miles from Stepney and also on our list. London's housing is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, many with a rear outrigger and a side return, and 1930s semis in the outer boroughs. Conservation areas are common, so the planning check comes first.
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
It starts with a visit to your house to measure, check access and talk through ideas and budget.
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
Our team builds the extension, keeps you updated weekly and finishes with building control sign-off.
Side return extension questions answered
Do you cover all of Stepney?
Yes. We cover Stepney and the surrounding parts of Greater London. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
Do I need building regulations approval in Stepney?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
Who do I contract with for a side return extension in Stepney?
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.
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 Stepney, more in London.
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 Stepney
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.