Single-storey rear extensions in Altrincham: design, approvals and build
Thinking about a single-storey extension for your Altrincham home? Start with a free site visit: we measure up, check what the council will allow and give you honest guide figures on the day.
- Guide price in AltrinchamFrom £19,500 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development (3–4 m), or prior approval up to 6–8 m
- Build time10–16 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsM23, M33, WA14, WA15
When a single-storey extension makes sense
- Semi-detached and detached houses with a usable rear garden
- Homeowners who want open-plan living onto the garden
- Terraced houses that want a deeper kitchen across the full width
Depth is the big decision. Every extra metre adds floor area but also takes garden and can push you out of permitted development. We draw the room at two or three depths so you can see the trade-off in space, light and cost before anything is fixed.
Guide prices for Altrincham
These guide figures apply our North West England adjustment (×0.95) to national rates. They include VAT at 20% and cover the build itself; design and council fees are listed separately.
Typical rates in Altrincham: £1,660 to £3,230 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 m × 4 m 12 m² | £19,500 – £23,500 | £23,000 – £30,000 | £29,500 – £39,000 |
| 4 m × 5 m 20 m² | £33,000 – £39,000 | £38,500 – £49,500 | £49,000 – £65,000 |
| 5 m × 6 m 30 m² | £49,500 – £58,500 | £58,000 – £74,500 | £74,000 – £97,000 |
Try the guide-price tool to see a range for your own size and finish.
Planning and approvals in Altrincham
In England a single-storey rear extension can usually go up to 3 m beyond the original rear wall of a semi-detached or terraced house, or 4 m on a detached house, without a planning application, provided it is no more than 4 m high, keeps eaves to 3 m within 2 m of a boundary and, with other buildings, covers no more than half the land around the original house. The larger home extension prior approval scheme raises those depths to 6 m and 8 m, with neighbours notified and a 42-day decision.
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.
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 Altrincham
Our survey diary covers Altrincham, including M23, M33, WA14, WA15. Neighbouring towns we cover include Sale (3 miles), Urmston (4 miles), Stretford (5 miles), Irlam (5 miles).
Just over the Cheshire border, Wilmslow is about 6 miles away. The North West has a high share of Victorian and Edwardian terraces with rear yards and outriggers, plus large areas of inter-war semis in the suburbs.
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
A designer visits, takes measurements and photos, and discusses layouts, budget and timing with you.
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
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.
Questions people ask about single-storey extensions
Do I need building regulations approval in Altrincham?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
Will my neighbours in Altrincham 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 you cover all of Altrincham?
Yes. We cover Altrincham and the surrounding parts of Greater Manchester. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
Flat roof or pitched roof?
Flat roofs give more headroom inside and suit lanterns and rooflights; pitched roofs can blend better with older houses. Both meet building regulations when built properly. See our flat roof and pitched roof pages for the details.
How much does a single-storey extension cost per square metre?
Our guide range is about £1,660 to £3,230 per m² including VAT, depending on specification. A standard-spec 4 m × 5 m room usually lands at £38,500 to £49,500 in Altrincham, plus design and council fees.
Book a free site visit in Altrincham
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.