South Ockendon, Essex
Side return extension in South Ockendon
We plan and build side return extensions for homeowners in South Ockendon. 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.
South Ockendon sits in Essex, with postcode districts including RM15, RM19 and RM20. Side return projects in South Ockendon 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 South Ockendon?
For South Ockendon we work from the East of England rate: £2,440–£4,030 per square metre of new floor, including VAT, standard specification. East of England prices run slightly above our West Midlands baseline; clay soils near trees are the main foundation variable.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²) | £29,500–£48,500 |
| 2.5 m wide × 7 m deep (17.5 m²) | £42,500–£70,500 |
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 South Ockendon?
Whether your side return extension in South Ockendon needs a planning application depends on its size, your house and any local restrictions.
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. 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 South Ockendon like to extend?
Post-war semis and newer estates are typical of South Ockendon, and many have room for a full-width extension. Shrinkable clay is common in the East of England, so foundations near trees and hedges are designed to NHBC-style depth guidance.
How a side return extension in South Ockendon 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.
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 South Ockendon
From South Ockendon, the nearest places we also cover are Chafford Hundred (1.4 miles) and Grays (2.9 miles).
- Side return extension in Chafford Hundred
- Side return extension in Grays
- Side return extension in Upminster
- Side return extension in Rainham
- Side return extension in Swanscombe
Other work in South Ockendon:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in South Ockendon
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.
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in South Ockendon?
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 combine a side return with a rear extension?
Yes; that is a wraparound extension, and it gives the biggest open-plan room a terrace can have.
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.
Do you handle building control in South Ockendon?
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 South Ockendon house?
We source the closest match and show you samples before ordering; reclaimed materials are often the best match on older houses.