Croydon, Greater London
Side return extension in Croydon
For homes in Croydon, a side return extension is often the simplest way to gain space without moving. Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. We take it from survey to completion certificate.
Croydon is covered from our Greater London round, including CR2, CR5, CR7 and CR8. 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 Croydon?
Guide prices for a side return extension in Croydon 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 |
Your written price follows a measured survey and an agreed design, so it reflects your house, not an average.
Do you need planning permission for a side return extension in Croydon?
Planning for a side return extension in Croydon 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. 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 Croydon like to extend?
Croydon 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. In Croydon 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.
How a side return extension in Croydon 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.
Paperwork handled
Planning, prior approval or permitted development, Building Regulations approval, structural design and party wall notices are all handled by us.
Build and sign-off
We build to the approved drawings with regular updates, then hand over the building control completion certificate and any guarantees from suppliers.
Side return extensions near Croydon
Close by, we work in Thornton Heath, about 1.1 miles away, and South Croydon, about 1.5 miles away.
- Side return extension in Thornton Heath
- Side return extension in South Croydon
- Side return extension in South Norwood
- Side return extension in Shirley
- Side return extension in Upper Norwood
Other work in Croydon:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Croydon
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.
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.
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.
Is the site visit in Croydon free?
Yes. We visit, measure up and talk through the options with no cost and no obligation.
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.
Can you match the brick or stone on my Croydon house?
We source the closest match and show you samples before ordering; reclaimed materials are often the best match on older houses.