County Durham
Side return extensions in County Durham
Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. We design and build rear extensions across County Durham, from Darlington and Hartlepool to Stockton-on-Tees, covering single-storey kitchen extensions, two-storey additions, side returns and wraparounds.
In Darlington 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. Terraces and semis are typical around County Durham. On terraces a single-storey rear extension across the back yard is usually the practical choice; semis often have room for more.
How much does a side return extension cost in County Durham?
A side return extension in County Durham is priced at £2,070–£3,420 per square metre including VAT as a guide, before kitchen fit-out and fees. North East prices are among the lowest in our range; former mining ground is the main foundation variable.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²) | £25,000–£41,000 |
| 2.5 m wide × 7 m deep (17.5 m²) | £36,000–£60,000 |
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 County Durham?
In England the side part of a side return or wraparound must meet the side-extension rules (one storey, under 4 metres high, no more than half the width of the original house), and those rights do not apply on designated land. Because a wraparound combines a side and a rear extension, many need householder planning permission.
Because rear extensions often sit on or near the boundary, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 usually applies in England. Notices go out one or two months before work depending on the type of work, and a surveyor's award is only needed if a neighbour does not consent.
Conservation areas, National Parks, National Landscapes and the Broads restrict permitted development, and listed buildings always need listed building consent.
Where in County Durham do we work?
FAQ
Questions people ask
How much space does a side return add?
Typically 8 to 18 square metres, enough to turn a galley kitchen into a kitchen-diner with an island.
Do I need my neighbour's permission?
Not their permission, but in England and Wales you must serve party wall notices, and a neighbour can consent in writing or ask for a surveyor's award.
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.
Do you cover all of County Durham?
We cover 16 towns and districts in County Durham, including Darlington, Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees.
Who builds the extension?
Vetted building teams working under contract to us; your contract is with S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd.