Side return extensions for homes in Torquay
Planning a side return extension in Torquay? 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 TorquayFrom £18,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development; party wall notice usual
- Build time10–14 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsTQ1, TQ2, TQ3, TQ4
How much does a side return extension cost in Torquay?
These guide figures apply our South West England adjustment (×1.02) to national rates. They include VAT at 20% and cover the build itself; design and council fees are listed separately.
Typical rates in Torquay: £2,140 to £3,880 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 m × 4.5 m 8 m² | £18,000 – £22,000 | £19,500 – £24,500 | £24,000 – £31,500 |
| 2 m × 5.5 m 11 m² | £23,500 – £28,500 | £26,500 – £34,000 | £33,500 – £43,000 |
| 2.2 m × 7 m 15 m² | £32,000 – £38,500 | £36,500 – £46,000 | £45,500 – £58,500 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
Will the council need to approve it?
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.
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.
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).
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
Local to Torquay
Postcode districts we cover around Torquay include TQ1, TQ2, TQ3, TQ4. The same team covers Paignton (3 miles), Newton Abbot (6 miles), Exmouth (12 miles), Exeter (18 miles), all within easy reach.
Bridport, in Dorset, is roughly 38 miles from Torquay and also on our list. In the South West, local stone, render and brick vary from town to town, so matching materials is a big part of designing an extension that looks right.
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
First, a site visit: we look at the house, garden, access and drains and listen to what you need.
Design and approvals
Drawings are prepared and agreed with you, then submitted for the right planning route and building regulations approval.
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.
Side return extension questions answered
How long does a side return extension take to build in Torquay?
On site, typically 10 to 14 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 6–12 weeks design and approvals.
Do I need building regulations approval in Torquay?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
Do you cover all of Torquay?
Yes. We cover Torquay and the surrounding parts of Devon. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
How much does a side return extension cost?
Our guide range is about £2,140 to £3,880 per m² including VAT, so a typical 2 m × 5.5 m infill lands around £26,500 to £34,000 at standard spec in Torquay, more in London.
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 Torquay
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.