Catford, Greater London
Side return extension in Catford
Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. If you live in Catford and want to know what a side return extension would cost and whether it needs planning, start with the online guide price or a free site visit.
Catford and its postcode districts SE4, SE6 and SE13 are part of our Greater London coverage. Side returns suit the Victorian and Edwardian terraces found across parts of Greater London, 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 Catford?
In Catford, our guide for a side return extension is £2,990–£4,940 per square metre including VAT for a 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 Catford?
Whether your side return extension in Catford needs a planning application depends on its size, your house and any local restrictions.
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 Catford like to extend?
Much of Catford is Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing with narrow back additions, which suits side returns, wraparounds and 3 metre rear extensions. Many streets are in conservation areas, gardens are short, and almost everything comes through the house or along a rear alley.
How a side return extension in Catford comes together
Free site visit
We measure the house and garden, look at the back wall, drainage and boundaries, and talk through what you want from the space.
Design and guide price
Two or three layout options with a guide price for each, so you choose the design knowing what it costs.
Approvals
Permitted development check, prior approval or planning application, then Building Regulations drawings and structural calculations, plus party wall notices where they apply.
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 Catford
Close by, we work in Ladywell, about 0.7 miles away, and Crofton Park, about 0.8 miles away.
- Side return extension in Ladywell
- Side return extension in Crofton Park
- Side return extension in Forest Hill
- Side return extension in Perry Vale
- Side return extension in Lee
Other work in Catford:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Catford
How long does a rear extension take to build in Catford?
Most single-storey rear extensions take 10 to 16 weeks on site and two-storey extensions 16 to 26 weeks, after design and approvals.
What postcode areas do you cover around Catford?
Including SE4, SE6 and SE13, and the surrounding Greater London area.
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.
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 Catford?
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.
Who will build my extension?
Vetted building teams working under contract to us. Your contract is with S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd for the design and the build.