Bournemouth, Dorset
Side return extension in Bournemouth
Thinking about a side return extension in Bournemouth? Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. Our team handles the drawings, the planning route and the build, and your contract is with one company throughout.
Bournemouth and its postcode districts BH1, BH2, BH3 and BH4 are part of our Dorset coverage. Side return projects in Bournemouth 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 Bournemouth?
A side return extension in Bournemouth is priced at £2,390–£3,950 per square metre including VAT as a guide, before kitchen fit-out and fees. South West prices run slightly above our West Midlands baseline; natural stone to match the house is the main variable.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²) | £28,500–£47,500 |
| 2.5 m wide × 7 m deep (17.5 m²) | £42,000–£69,000 |
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 Bournemouth?
The planning route for a side return extension in Bournemouth 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 Bournemouth like to extend?
Bournemouth has Victorian terraces nearer the centre and post-war semis on the edges. Sloping gardens are frequent, which affects floor levels and steps down to the patio.
How a side return extension in Bournemouth 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.
Drawings and budget
Floor plans and elevations for the options, each with a guide price.
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 Bournemouth
Close by, we work in Christchurch, about 4.4 miles away, and Canford Heath, about 4.4 miles away.
- Side return extension in Christchurch
- Side return extension in Canford Heath
- Side return extension in Poole
- Side return extension in Broadstone
- Side return extension in Ferndown
Other work in Bournemouth:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Bournemouth
How much does a side return extension cost in Bournemouth?
As a guide, £2,390–£3,950 per square metre including VAT for a standard specification. For example, 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²): about £28,500–£47,500 at that rate. Your written price follows the survey.
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.
Is a side return permitted development?
Sometimes, as a side extension within the width and height limits, but not in conservation areas, and many terraces are in one.
Will I need a structural engineer?
Yes for the beam over the new opening and usually the foundations; we arrange them and their calculations go to building control.
How long does a rear extension take to build in Bournemouth?
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 planning permission for a rear extension in Bournemouth?
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.