Cheam, Greater London
Side return extension in Cheam
Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. If you live in Cheam 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.
We cover Cheam (SM1, SM2 and SM3) as part of our Greater London work. 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 Cheam?
Guide prices for a side return extension in Cheam start from our London rate of £2,990–£4,940 per square metre, including VAT. 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 |
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 Cheam?
Planning for a side return extension in Cheam 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. 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 Cheam like to extend?
Cheam is mostly 1930s semis, short terraces and post-war houses, so full-width single-storey and two-storey rear extensions are realistic on many plots. Some later estates had permitted development rights removed by condition, so we check the planning history first.
How a side return extension in Cheam 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.
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 Cheam
We also build side return extensions in nearby Sutton (1.2 miles) and Ewell (1.5 miles).
- Side return extension in Sutton
- Side return extension in Ewell
- Side return extension in Belmont
- Side return extension in Worcester Park
- Side return extension in St Helier
Other work in Cheam:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Cheam
Can you match the brick or stone on my Cheam house?
We source the closest match and show you samples before ordering; reclaimed materials are often the best match on older houses.
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 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.
How long does a rear extension take to build in Cheam?
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 Cheam?
Including SM1, SM2 and SM3, and the surrounding Greater London area.
Do you handle building control in Cheam?
Yes. We apply to the council or a registered building control approver and hand over the completion certificate.