Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham
Side return extension in Houghton-le-Spring
Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. If you live in Houghton-le-Spring 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.
Houghton-le-Spring is covered from our County Durham round, including DH4, SR3 and SR4. In Houghton-le-Spring 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 Houghton-le-Spring?
Guide prices for a side return extension in Houghton-le-Spring start from our North East England rate of £2,070–£3,420 per square metre, including VAT. 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 for a side return extension in Houghton-le-Spring?
Here is how the rules in England apply to a side return extension in Houghton-le-Spring.
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 Houghton-le-Spring like to extend?
Brick terraces, colliery houses and post-war semis make up much of Houghton-le-Spring. Former mining areas often need a coal mining risk check before foundations are designed.
How a side return extension in Houghton-le-Spring 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.
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 Houghton-le-Spring
From Houghton-le-Spring, the nearest places we also cover are Hetton-le-Hole (1.7 miles) and Ryhope (4.3 miles).
- Side return extension in Hetton-le-Hole
- Side return extension in Ryhope
- Side return extension in Chester-le-Street
- Side return extension in Washington
- Side return extension in Seaham
Other work in Houghton-le-Spring:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Houghton-le-Spring
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.
How long does a rear extension take to build in Houghton-le-Spring?
Most single-storey rear extensions take 10 to 16 weeks on site and two-storey extensions 16 to 26 weeks, after design and approvals.
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.
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Houghton-le-Spring?
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.
Is the site visit in Houghton-le-Spring free?
Yes. We visit, measure up and talk through the options with no cost and no obligation.
How much does a side return extension cost in Houghton-le-Spring?
As a guide, £2,070–£3,420 per square metre including VAT for a standard specification. For example, 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²): about £25,000–£41,000 at that rate. Your written price follows the survey.