Whitehaven, Cumbria
Semi-detached rear extension in Whitehaven
Single or two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses, with side access and one party wall. If you live in Whitehaven and want to know what a semi-detached rear extension would cost and whether it needs planning, start with the online guide price or a free site visit.
Whitehaven sits in Cumbria, with postcode districts including CA28. Semi-detached houses are common across Cumbria, and their side access makes rear extensions quicker to build.
Book a free site visit
Tell us about the house and we'll call to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.
How much does a semi-detached rear extension cost in Whitehaven?
In Whitehaven, our guide for a semi-detached rear extension is £1,790–£2,910 per square metre including VAT for a standard specification. North West prices sit below our West Midlands baseline; access on terraced streets is the main variable.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 3 m wide × 4 m deep (12 m²) | £21,500–£35,000 |
| 4 m wide × 5 m deep (20 m²) | £35,500–£58,500 |
| 4 m wide × 6 m deep (24 m²) | £43,000–£70,000 |
These are guide ranges; the written quote after the survey is the figure that counts.
Do you need planning permission for a semi-detached rear extension in Whitehaven?
Planning for a semi-detached rear extension in Whitehaven follows the English householder rules.
Under England's householder permitted development rules you can usually add 3 metres at the back of an attached house, or 4 metres on a detached house, without a planning application, as long as the extension stays under 4 metres high and its eaves stay under 3 metres where it is within 2 metres of a boundary.
A two-storey rear extension can be permitted development in England only if it projects no more than 3 metres, stays at least 7 metres from the rear boundary, matches the existing roof pitch and has obscure-glazed upper side windows. In practice most double-storey rear extensions go through a householder planning application.
England also has the larger home extension route: a single-storey rear extension of up to 6 metres on an attached house or 8 metres on a detached house, after prior approval from the council. The council notifies your neighbours and has 42 days to decide; the fee is £249 (£310 for applications made from 8 December 2026). The route is not available on designated land such as conservation areas.
Conservation areas, National Parks, National Landscapes and the Broads restrict permitted development, and listed buildings always need listed building consent. Before any drawing we look up the property's history with the council, because earlier extensions and removed rights change the answer.
What are homes in Whitehaven like to extend?
Whitehaven has long runs of terraced houses with back yards and alleys, plus 1930s semis further out. Yard extensions on terraces are often single-storey and close to both boundaries.
How a semi-detached rear extension in Whitehaven comes together
Survey visit
We visit free of charge, measure up, check access, drainage and neighbours' extensions, and note what you want the room to do.
Design and guide price
Two or three layout options with a guide price for each, so you choose the design knowing what it costs.
Planning and regulations
We take the design through the right planning route, then produce the construction drawings and engineer's calculations for building control.
Written price, then build
Once the design and approvals are in place, you get a fixed written price and programme, and we build through to sign-off.
Semi-detached rear extensions near Whitehaven
Close by, we work in Workington, about 6.7 miles away, and Ulverston, about 31.3 miles away.
- Semi-detached rear extension in Workington
- Semi-detached rear extension in Ulverston
- Semi-detached rear extension in Annan
- Semi-detached rear extension in Barrow in Furness
- Semi-detached rear extension in Penrith
Other work in Whitehaven:
FAQ
Semi-detached rear extension questions in Whitehaven
Do I need a party wall agreement?
In England, usually yes if the extension is on or near a shared boundary or the foundations are close to a neighbour's building. We serve the notices.
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Whitehaven?
Often not for a single-storey rear extension of up to 3 metres (4 metres on a detached house) under permitted development, or up to 6 or 8 metres with prior approval, unless the house is in a conservation area or its rights have been removed.
What if my neighbour has already extended?
That can make a matching depth easier to justify. We measure theirs at the survey.
How long does a rear extension take to build in Whitehaven?
Most single-storey rear extensions take 10 to 16 weeks on site and two-storey extensions 16 to 26 weeks, after design and approvals.
Is the site visit in Whitehaven free?
Yes. We visit, measure up and talk through the options with no cost and no obligation.
Can I live at home while the extension is built?
Usually yes. Most of the work is outside until the back wall is opened near the end, and that stage is screened off.