Bickley, Greater London
Side return extension in Bickley
Side return extension in Bickley: infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. We measure the house, show you what the rules allow, price it in writing and build it.
Bickley is covered from our Greater London round, including BR1, BR2 and BR7. In Bickley 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 Bickley?
For Bickley 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.
| 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 |
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 Bickley?
Planning for a side return extension in Bickley 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. At the first visit we measure what is there now and tell you which route fits: permitted development, prior approval or a planning application.
What are homes in Bickley like to extend?
Much of Bickley 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 a side return extension in Bickley 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.
Options and costs
We draw layout options and price each one, so the budget shapes the design rather than surprising you later.
Approvals
Permitted development check, prior approval or planning application, then Building Regulations drawings and structural calculations, plus party wall notices where they apply.
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 Bickley
Neighbouring places we cover include Chislehurst (1.5 miles) and Orpington (2.9 miles).
- Side return extension in Chislehurst
- Side return extension in Orpington
- Side return extension in Sidcup
- Side return extension in Beckenham
- Side return extension in Eltham
Other work in Bickley:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Bickley
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.
Can I get a price without a visit?
Our online guide-price tool gives a range in a couple of minutes. A written price needs a survey.
Where does the drainage go?
Side passages often carry the soil and rainwater pipes. We survey them first and reroute them under the new floor where needed.
Do you handle building control in Bickley?
Yes. We apply to the council or a registered building control approver and hand over the completion certificate.
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 I need planning permission for a rear extension in Bickley?
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.