Side return extensions in Wantage
A side return extension in Wantage 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 WantageFrom £20,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development; party wall notice usual
- Build time10–14 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsOX12
Planning and approvals in Wantage
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 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.
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).
Who a side return extension suits
- Homes where the garden is too small to lose much depth
- Narrow galley kitchens
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces with a rear outrigger
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.
What should I budget for a side return extension in Wantage?
For Wantage we adjust our national guide rates by ×1.12, the factor we use for South East England. Figures include VAT; your written quote after the survey replaces them.
Typical rates in Wantage: £2,350 to £4,260 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 m × 4.5 m 8 m² | £20,000 – £24,000 | £21,500 – £27,000 | £26,500 – £34,500 |
| 2 m × 5.5 m 11 m² | £25,500 – £31,000 | £29,500 – £37,000 | £36,500 – £47,000 |
| 2.2 m × 7 m 15 m² | £35,000 – £42,500 | £40,000 – £50,500 | £50,000 – £64,000 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
Extensions in and around Wantage
Across OX12, we can visit, measure and advise. We also work in nearby Didcot (8 miles), Abingdon (8 miles), Oxford (13 miles), Witney (13 miles).
Just over the Berkshire border, Newbury is about 14 miles away. The South East has a broad mix of 1930s semis, post-war estates, newer developments and period cottages, and many houses have enough garden for a generous rear extension.
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 Wantage home, measure up, talk through what you want and check the planning position.
Design and approvals
Once the layout is agreed, we deal with the council: planning permission or written confirmation that none is needed, plus building control.
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
We build it with one project manager, book the building control inspections and hand over the completion certificate.
Questions people ask about side return extensions
Do I need building regulations approval in Wantage?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Wantage, 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 Wantage?
On site, typically 10 to 14 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 6–12 weeks design and approvals.
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 £2,350 to £4,260 per m² including VAT, so a typical 2 m × 5.5 m infill lands around £29,500 to £37,000 at standard spec in Wantage, more in London.
Book a free site visit in Wantage
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.