Dorchester, Dorset
Side return extension in Dorchester
Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. We design, get the approvals for and build side return extensions in Dorchester and the surrounding area, with one contract from the first survey to building control sign-off.
We cover Dorchester (DT1) as part of our Dorset work. In Dorchester 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 Dorchester?
Guide prices for a side return extension in Dorchester start from our South West England rate of £2,390–£3,950 per square metre, including VAT. 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 |
We put a fixed price in writing once the design is agreed, and explain any provisional sums such as foundations.
Do you need planning permission for a side return extension in Dorchester?
Here is how the rules in England apply to a side return extension in Dorchester.
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. At the first visit we measure what is there now and tell you which route fits: permitted development, prior approval or a planning application.
What are homes in Dorchester like to extend?
Dorchester 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 Dorchester 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.
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 Dorchester
We also build side return extensions in nearby Weymouth (7.2 miles) and Portland (10.3 miles).
- Side return extension in Weymouth
- Side return extension in Portland
- Side return extension in Bridport
- Side return extension in Blandford Forum
- Side return extension in Yeovil
Other work in Dorchester:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Dorchester
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.
Is the site visit in Dorchester free?
Yes. We visit, measure up and talk through the options with no cost and no obligation.
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.
Can you match the brick or stone on my Dorchester house?
We source the closest match and show you samples before ordering; reclaimed materials are often the best match on older houses.
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.
Do you handle building control in Dorchester?
Yes. We apply to the council or a registered building control approver and hand over the completion certificate.