Essex
Larger home extension prior approval (England) in Essex
Up to 6 m (attached) or 8 m (detached) deep, after neighbour consultation. We design and build rear extensions across Essex, from Southend-on-Sea and Basildon to Colchester, covering single-storey kitchen extensions, two-storey additions, side returns and wraparounds.
Essex mixes Victorian terraces with 1930s semis, so both side returns and full-width kitchen extensions suit houses here.
How much does a prior approval rear extension cost in Essex?
Guide prices for a prior approval rear extension in Essex start from our East of England rate of £2,010–£3,290 per square metre, including VAT. East of England prices run slightly above our West Midlands baseline; clay soils near trees are the main foundation variable.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 3 m wide × 4 m deep (12 m²) | £24,000–£39,500 |
| 4 m wide × 5 m deep (20 m²) | £40,500–£65,500 |
| 4 m wide × 6 m deep (24 m²) | £48,500–£79,000 |
Your written price follows a measured survey and an agreed design, so it reflects your house, not an average.
Do you need planning permission in Essex?
If 3 or 4 metres is not enough, England's prior approval route allows 6 metres on a terraced or semi-detached house and 8 metres on a detached house for a single-storey rear extension. Neighbours are consulted, the council decides within 42 days, and the fee is £249, rising to £310 from 8 December 2026.
Conservation areas, National Parks, National Landscapes and the Broads restrict permitted development, and listed buildings always need listed building consent.
Where in Essex do we work?
- Southend-on-Sea
- Basildon
- Colchester
- Chelmsford
- Harlow
- Grays
- Braintree
- Brentwood
- Clacton-on-Sea
- South Benfleet
- Canvey Island
- Billericay
- Rayleigh
- Stanford-le-Hope
- Wickford
- Witham
- Pitsea
- Maldon
- Waltham Abbey
- South Ockendon
- Harwich
- Hadleigh
- Walton-on-the-Naze
- Frinton-on-Sea
- Rochford
- Saffron Walden
- Tilbury
- Chafford Hundred
- Chigwell
- Halstead
- Buckhurst Hill
- Epping
FAQ
Questions people ask
How deep can I go with prior approval?
6 metres on attached houses and 8 metres on detached houses, single-storey only, up to 4 metres high.
Can my neighbours stop it?
They can object; the council then judges the effect on their amenity. Many schemes are approved after objections.
What happens after 42 days?
If the council has not decided, you can proceed. We still recommend waiting for written confirmation where possible.
Do you cover all of Essex?
We cover 32 towns and districts in Essex, including Southend-on-Sea, Basildon and Colchester.
Who builds the extension?
Vetted building teams working under contract to us; your contract is with S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd.