Single-storey rear extensions for homes in Durham
Planning a single-storey extension in Durham? 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 DurhamFrom £19,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development (3–4 m), or prior approval up to 6–8 m
- Build time10–16 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsDH1
Extensions in and around Durham
Across DH1, we can visit, measure and advise. Nearby, we also take on projects in Chester-le-Street (6 miles), Stanley (8 miles), Bishop Auckland (9 miles), Peterlee (10 miles).
For homes towards Tyne and Wear, Houghton-le-Spring is around 6 miles away. Across the North East, houses often have rear yards or modest gardens, so compact, well-lit single-storey extensions make the biggest difference.
Will the council need to approve it?
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 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).
What is included
- Doors, windows, insulation, plastering and first fix to finish
- Foundations, drainage and groundworks
- Walls, steel beams and the new opening into the house
- Measured survey and design
What should I budget for a single-storey extension in Durham?
For Durham we adjust our national guide rates by ×0.91, the factor we use for North East England. Figures include VAT; your written quote after the survey replaces them.
Typical rates in Durham: £1,590 to £3,090 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 m × 4 m 12 m² | £19,000 – £22,500 | £22,000 – £28,500 | £28,000 – £37,500 |
| 4 m × 5 m 20 m² | £31,500 – £37,500 | £37,000 – £47,500 | £47,000 – £62,000 |
| 5 m × 6 m 30 m² | £47,500 – £56,000 | £55,500 – £71,000 | £70,500 – £93,000 |
Try the guide-price tool to see a range for your own size and finish.
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
We visit your Durham home, measure up, talk through what you want and check the planning position.
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
With the design and specification agreed, you get a fixed written price and a start date.
Build and sign-off
Work is carried out to the agreed programme, inspected by building control and signed off at the end.
Single-storey extension questions answered
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Durham, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
Who do I contract with for a single-storey extension in Durham?
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.
Do I need building regulations approval in Durham?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
How much does a single-storey extension cost per square metre?
Our guide range is about £1,590 to £3,090 per m² including VAT, depending on specification. A standard-spec 4 m × 5 m room usually lands at £37,000 to £47,500 in Durham, plus design and council fees.
Can I stay in the house during the build?
Usually yes. Most of the work happens outside until the final weeks, when we open the rear wall. We plan that stage carefully and seal the opening with a temporary screen to keep dust down.
Book a free site visit in Durham
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.