Wraparound extensions in Orpington: design, approvals and build
Orpington homeowners can use us for the whole wraparound extension project: survey, design, planning or permitted development checks, building regulations and the build itself.
- Guide price in OrpingtonFrom £46,500 inc VAT
- PlanningUsually a householder application
- Build time14–20 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsBR5, BR6
Working in Orpington
Our survey diary covers Orpington, including BR5, BR6. Neighbouring towns we cover include Chislehurst (3 miles), Bexley (5 miles), Eltham (6 miles), Beckenham (6 miles).
Swanley, in Kent, is roughly 4 miles from Orpington 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.
What should I budget for a wraparound extension in Orpington?
For Orpington we adjust our national guide rates by ×1.3, the factor we use for London. Figures include VAT; your written quote after the survey replaces them.
Typical rates in Orpington: £2,600 to £4,810 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact L-shape 18 m² | £46,500 – £56,500 | £53,500 – £68,000 | £67,500 – £87,000 |
| Medium L-shape 25 m² | £65,000 – £78,000 | £74,500 – £94,500 | £94,000 – £120,500 |
| Large L-shape 32 m² | £83,000 – £100,000 | £95,500 – £121,000 | £120,500 – £154,000 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
When a wraparound extension makes sense
- Terraced houses that want the largest ground floor possible
- Families who want kitchen, dining and living in one space
- Semi-detached houses with a side passage
The corner is where wraparounds succeed or fail. We usually use a single steel goalpost or a corner post hidden in a pier, and set the glazing so the new room reads as one space rather than two boxes.
Planning rules that apply in Orpington
In England a wraparound extension is assessed as both a side and a rear extension, and the combination usually falls outside permitted development, so most need a householder planning application (£548 from 1 April 2026).
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.
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).
Our process, step by step
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 Orpington 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
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.
Common questions in Orpington
Do you cover all of Orpington?
Yes. We cover Orpington and the surrounding parts of Greater London. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
How long does a wraparound extension take to build in Orpington?
On site, typically 14 to 20 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 8–16 weeks design and approvals.
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Orpington, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
Is a wraparound better than a side return alone?
It adds far more space, but costs more and needs planning permission more often. Our comparison guide sets the two side by side.
Do wraparound extensions need planning permission?
Usually, yes. In England the side element counts as a side extension and the rear element as a rear extension, and the combination normally falls outside permitted development. A householder application costs £548 in England from 1 April 2026.
Book a free site visit in Orpington
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.