Chester-le-Street, County Durham
Side return extension in Chester-le-Street
Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. If you live in Chester-le-Street and want to know what a side return extension would cost and whether it needs planning, start with the online guide price or a free site visit.
Chester-le-Street sits in County Durham, with postcode districts including DH2. Side return projects in Chester-le-Street usually start with a drainage survey of the side passage.
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 Chester-le-Street?
In Chester-le-Street, our guide for a side return extension is £2,070–£3,420 per square metre including VAT for a standard specification. 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 |
These are guide ranges; the written quote after the survey is the figure that counts.
Do you need planning permission for a side return extension in Chester-le-Street?
The planning route for a side return extension in Chester-le-Street is set by England's householder rules and your council.
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 Chester-le-Street like to extend?
Terraces and semis are typical around Chester-le-Street. On terraces a single-storey rear extension across the back yard is usually the practical choice; semis often have room for more.
How a side return extension in Chester-le-Street comes together
Free site visit
We measure the house and garden, look at the back wall, drainage and boundaries, and talk through what you want from the space.
Drawings and budget
Floor plans and elevations for the options, each with a guide price.
Approvals
Permitted development check, prior approval or planning application, then Building Regulations drawings and structural calculations, plus party wall notices where they apply.
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.
Side return extensions near Chester-le-Street
We also build side return extensions in nearby Washington (3.7 miles) and Houghton-le-Spring (4.5 miles).
- Side return extension in Washington
- Side return extension in Houghton-le-Spring
- Side return extension in Stanley
- Side return extension in Durham
- Side return extension in Hetton-le-Hole
Other work in Chester-le-Street:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Chester-le-Street
Is the site visit in Chester-le-Street free?
Yes. We visit, measure up and talk through the options with no cost and no obligation.
Who will build my extension?
Vetted building teams working under contract to us. Your contract is with S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd for the design and the build.
Glass roof or solid roof with rooflights?
A glass roof gives the most light; a solid roof with long rooflights is warmer and quieter in rain. Both work.
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 you handle building control in Chester-le-Street?
Yes. We apply to the council or a registered building control approver and hand over the completion certificate.
How long does a rear extension take to build in Chester-le-Street?
Most single-storey rear extensions take 10 to 16 weeks on site and two-storey extensions 16 to 26 weeks, after design and approvals.