Lewes, East Sussex
Side return extension in Lewes
Thinking about a side return extension in Lewes? 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.
We cover Lewes (BN7) as part of our East Sussex work. In Lewes 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 Lewes?
A side return extension in Lewes is priced at £2,580–£4,260 per square metre including VAT as a guide, before kitchen fit-out and fees. South East prices run above our West Midlands baseline, mainly on labour rates and clay-soil foundations.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²) | £31,000–£51,000 |
| 2.5 m wide × 7 m deep (17.5 m²) | £45,000–£74,500 |
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 Lewes?
Whether your side return extension in Lewes needs a planning application depends on its size, your house and any local restrictions.
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 Lewes like to extend?
Lewes has a mix of Victorian terraces near the centre and larger Edwardian and inter-war houses further out. Clay soils across much of the South East mean deeper foundations near trees, which we plan for at the survey.
How a side return extension in Lewes 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.
Paperwork handled
Planning, prior approval or permitted development, Building Regulations approval, structural design and party wall notices are all handled by us.
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 Lewes
Neighbouring places we cover include Rottingdean (5.3 miles) and Peacehaven (5.7 miles).
- Side return extension in Rottingdean
- Side return extension in Peacehaven
- Side return extension in Newhaven
- Side return extension in Brighton
- Side return extension in Uckfield
Other work in Lewes:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Lewes
How much does a side return extension cost in Lewes?
As a guide, £2,580–£4,260 per square metre including VAT for a standard specification. For example, 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²): about £31,000–£51,000 at that rate. Your written price follows the survey.
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Lewes?
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.
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 you handle building control in Lewes?
Yes. We apply to the council or a registered building control approver and hand over the completion certificate.
Can you match the brick or stone on my Lewes house?
We source the closest match and show you samples before ordering; reclaimed materials are often the best match on older houses.
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.