Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Side return extension in Cambridge
We plan and build side return extensions for homeowners in Cambridge. Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. Start with a free site visit, then a written price once the design is agreed.
Cambridge and its postcode districts CB1, CB2 and CB4 are part of our Cambridgeshire coverage. In Cambridge we check the boundary line and the neighbour's gutter before drawing a side return, because a few centimetres decide whether the wall goes on or beside the boundary.
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 side return extension cost in Cambridge?
A side return extension in Cambridge is priced at £2,440–£4,030 per square metre including VAT as a guide, before kitchen fit-out and fees. 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 |
|---|---|
| 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²) | £29,500–£48,500 |
| 2.5 m wide × 7 m deep (17.5 m²) | £42,500–£70,500 |
Ground conditions, glazing, the roof and how far the house is opened up move the final figure within the range.
Do you need planning permission for a side return extension in Cambridge?
Whether your side return extension in Cambridge needs a planning application depends on its size, your house and any local restrictions.
Side return infills and the side leg of a wraparound are treated as side extensions in England: single-storey, no more than 4 metres high and no wider than half the original house. They are not permitted development in conservation areas, National Parks or National Landscapes, and a joined wraparound often needs a planning application because the side and rear rules apply together.
The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies in England: you serve notice two months before work to a shared wall, and one month before digging foundations within 3 metres (or 6 metres for deeper foundations) of a neighbour's building. Neighbours can agree in writing; if they dissent, surveyors agree an award.
Conservation areas, National Parks, National Landscapes and the Broads restrict permitted development, and listed buildings always need listed building consent. We check your house's planning history and any conservation area before drawing, so the route is clear before you spend on plans.
What are homes in Cambridge like to extend?
Cambridge mixes Victorian terraces with 1930s semis, so both side returns and full-width kitchen extensions suit houses here.
How a side return extension in Cambridge comes together
Look round and measure
A free visit to see the back of the house, measure it, check the drains and boundaries and hear what you need.
Options and costs
We draw layout options and price each one, so the budget shapes the design rather than surprising you later.
Planning and regulations
We take the design through the right planning route, then produce the construction drawings and engineer's calculations for building control.
Fixed price and build
A written price for the agreed design, a start date and a named contact through the build, ending with the building control completion certificate.
Side return extensions near Cambridge
Close by, we work in Royston, about 12.1 miles away, and St Ives, about 12.3 miles away.
- Side return extension in Royston
- Side return extension in St Ives
- Side return extension in Newmarket
- Side return extension in Saffron Walden
- Side return extension in Ely
Other work in Cambridge:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Cambridge
How much does a side return extension cost in Cambridge?
As a guide, £2,440–£4,030 per square metre including VAT for a standard specification. For example, 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²): about £29,500–£48,500 at that rate. Your written price follows the survey.
Do you handle building control in Cambridge?
Yes. We apply to the council or a registered building control approver and hand over the completion certificate.
Can I combine a side return with a rear extension?
Yes; that is a wraparound extension, and it gives the biggest open-plan room a terrace can have.
Is the site visit in Cambridge free?
Yes. We visit, measure up and talk through the options with no cost and no obligation.
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Cambridge?
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.
Can I get a price without a visit?
Our online guide-price tool gives a range in a couple of minutes. A written price needs a survey.