Greater London

Side return extensions in Greater London

Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. We design and build rear extensions across Greater London, from Islington and Bexley to Barking, covering single-storey kitchen extensions, two-storey additions, side returns and wraparounds.

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Side return extension in a Victorian terrace with a glazed roof along the exposed brick party wall

In Islington 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. Much of Greater London is 1920s and 1930s semis and short terraces with longer gardens than inner London, which suit full-width single-storey rear extensions. Parking suspensions, skip licences and controlled hours on residential streets shape the programme more than the build itself.

How much does a side return extension cost in Greater London?

For Greater London we work from the London rate: £2,990–£4,940 per square metre of new floor, including VAT, standard specification. London prices sit at the top of our range because of labour rates, access through the house, parking suspensions and skip licences.

Side return extension guide prices in Greater London
Size	Guide price inc VAT
2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²)	£36,000–£59,500
2.5 m wide × 7 m deep (17.5 m²)	£52,500–£86,500

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 in Greater London?

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.

Where in Greater London do we work?

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FAQ

Questions people ask

How much space does a side return add?

Typically 8 to 18 square metres, enough to turn a galley kitchen into a kitchen-diner with an island.

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.

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 you cover all of Greater London?

We cover 187 towns and districts in Greater London, including Islington, Bexley and Barking.

Who builds the extension?

Vetted building teams working under contract to us; your contract is with S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd.