St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex
Side return extension in St Leonards-on-Sea
Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. We design, get the approvals for and build side return extensions in St Leonards-on-Sea and the surrounding area, with one contract from the first survey to building control sign-off.
St Leonards-on-Sea and its postcode districts TN34, TN37 and TN38 are part of our East Sussex coverage. Side returns suit the Victorian and Edwardian terraces found across parts of East Sussex, where the kitchen sits in a narrow back addition.
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 St Leonards-on-Sea?
A side return extension in St Leonards-on-Sea 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 |
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 St Leonards-on-Sea?
Planning for a side return extension in St Leonards-on-Sea follows the English householder rules.
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 St Leonards-on-Sea like to extend?
Around St Leonards-on-Sea the housing ranges from inter-war semis to 1960s and 1970s estates with good-sized gardens. Many of the newer estates had permitted development rights removed by condition, so we check the planning history before anything is drawn.
How a side return extension in St Leonards-on-Sea 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.
Design and guide price
Two or three layout options with a guide price for each, so you choose the design knowing what it costs.
Planning and regulations
We take the design through the right planning route, then produce the construction drawings and engineer's calculations for building control.
Build and sign-off
We build to the approved drawings with regular updates, then hand over the building control completion certificate and any guarantees from suppliers.
Side return extensions near St Leonards-on-Sea
Close by, we work in Hastings, about 1.5 miles away, and Bexhill-on-Sea, about 3.3 miles away.
- Side return extension in Hastings
- Side return extension in Bexhill-on-Sea
- Side return extension in Hailsham
- Side return extension in Eastbourne
- Side return extension in Seaford
Other work in St Leonards-on-Sea:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in St Leonards-on-Sea
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.
Can you match the brick or stone on my St Leonards-on-Sea house?
We source the closest match and show you samples before ordering; reclaimed materials are often the best match on older houses.
Glass roof or solid roof with rooflights?
A glass roof gives the most light; a solid roof with long rooflights is warmer and quieter in rain. Both work.
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in St Leonards-on-Sea?
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 St Leonards-on-Sea free?
Yes. We visit, measure up and talk through the options with no cost and no obligation.
Do you handle building control in St Leonards-on-Sea?
Yes. We apply to the council or a registered building control approver and hand over the completion certificate.