Single-storey rear extensions in Greenwich: design, approvals and build
Thinking about a single-storey extension for your Greenwich 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 GreenwichFrom £27,000 inc VAT
- PlanningOften permitted development (3–4 m), or prior approval up to 6–8 m
- Build time10–16 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsSE3, SE4, SE8, SE10, SE13

Single-storey extension prices in Greenwich
Prices below are for Greenwich, using the London factor of ×1.3. They are guide ranges including VAT for the build only, not a quote.
Typical rates in Greenwich: £2,280 to £4,420 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 m × 4 m 12 m² | £27,000 – £32,000 | £31,500 – £41,000 | £40,500 – £53,500 |
| 4 m × 5 m 20 m² | £45,500 – £53,500 | £53,000 – £68,000 | £67,500 – £88,500 |
| 5 m × 6 m 30 m² | £68,000 – £80,000 | £79,500 – £101,500 | £101,000 – £133,000 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
Covering Greenwich
Our survey diary covers Greenwich, including SE3, SE4, SE8, SE10, SE13, SE14. We also work in nearby New Cross (1 mile), Blackheath (1 mile), Brockley (1 mile), Catford (2 miles).
Swanley, in Kent, is roughly 10 miles from Greenwich 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.
Planning and approvals in Greenwich
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.
Before any drawing is finalised we check whether the house is listed, in a conservation area or subject to an Article 4 direction.
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).
What we take care of
- Foundations, drainage and groundworks
- Doors, windows, insulation, plastering and first fix to finish
- Walls, steel beams and the new opening into the house
- Building regulations drawings and structural calculations
- Measured survey and design
- Planning route checked and the right approval obtained
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
First, a site visit: we look at the house, garden, access and drains and listen to what you need.
Design and approvals
We draw the design, agree it with you and handle planning or permitted development checks and building regulations.
Fixed written price
With the design and specification agreed, you get a fixed written price and a start date.
Build and sign-off
The build is managed from start to finish, inspected at each stage and signed off on completion.
Your questions about a single-storey extension in Greenwich
Will my neighbours in Greenwich 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.
How long does a single-storey extension take to build in Greenwich?
On site, typically 10 to 16 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 4–12 weeks design and approvals.
Who do I contract with for a single-storey extension in Greenwich?
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 single-storey extension cost per square metre?
Our guide range is about £2,280 to £4,420 per m² including VAT, depending on specification. A standard-spec 4 m × 5 m room usually lands at £53,000 to £68,000 in Greenwich, plus design and council fees.
Will I need a steel beam?
Almost always. Opening up the rear wall to join the new room to the house needs a beam, usually steel, sized by a structural engineer. It is included in our quotes.
Book a free site visit in Greenwich
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.