Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Side return extension in Cheltenham
We plan and build side return extensions for homeowners in Cheltenham. 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.
Cheltenham sits in Gloucestershire, with postcode districts including GL50, GL51 and GL53. In Cheltenham 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 Cheltenham?
For Cheltenham we work from the South West England rate: £2,390–£3,950 per square metre of new floor, including VAT, standard specification. 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 Cheltenham?
Planning for a side return extension in Cheltenham follows the English householder rules.
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. Before any drawing we look up the property's history with the council, because earlier extensions and removed rights change the answer.
What are homes in Cheltenham like to extend?
Stone-built and rendered houses are common around Cheltenham, so matching the walling is a design decision in its own right: natural stone, reconstituted stone or a render finish across old and new.
How a side return extension in Cheltenham 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 Cheltenham
Close by, we work in Charlton Kings, about 2.0 miles away, and Bishops Cleeve, about 3.4 miles away.
- Side return extension in Charlton Kings
- Side return extension in Bishops Cleeve
- Side return extension in Churchdown
- Side return extension in Tewkesbury
- Side return extension in Gloucester
Other work in Cheltenham:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Cheltenham
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.
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.
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 you handle building control in Cheltenham?
Yes. We apply to the council or a registered building control approver and hand over the completion certificate.
What postcode areas do you cover around Cheltenham?
Including GL50, GL51 and GL53, and the surrounding Gloucestershire area.
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.