Portland, Dorset
Side return extension in Portland
We plan and build side return extensions for homeowners in Portland. Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. Start with a free site visit, then a written price once the design is agreed.
Portland and its postcode districts DT5 are part of our Dorset coverage. In Portland 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 Portland?
A side return extension in Portland 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 Portland?
The planning route for a side return extension in Portland 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. 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 Portland like to extend?
Stone-built and rendered houses are common around Portland, so matching the walling is a design decision in its own right: natural stone, reconstituted stone or a render finish across old and new. Side return projects in Portland usually start with a drainage survey of the side passage.
How a side return extension in Portland comes together
Look round and measure
A free visit to see the back of the house, measure it, check the drains and boundaries and hear what you need.
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 Portland
Neighbouring places we cover include Weymouth (3.3 miles) and Dorchester (10.3 miles).
- Side return extension in Weymouth
- Side return extension in Dorchester
- Side return extension in Bridport
- Side return extension in Swanage
- Side return extension in Poole
Other work in Portland:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Portland
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Portland?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.