Islington, Greater London
Side return extension in Islington
Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. If you live in Islington 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.
Islington sits in Greater London, with postcode districts including EC1R, EC1A, EC1V and EC1M. 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.
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 Islington?
A side return extension in Islington is priced at £2,990–£4,940 per square metre including VAT as a guide, before kitchen fit-out and fees. 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 Islington?
Planning for a side return extension in Islington 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. Before any drawing we look up the property's history with the council, because earlier extensions and removed rights change the answer.
What are homes in Islington like to extend?
Much of Islington 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 Islington 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.
Planning and regulations
We take the design through the right planning route, then produce the construction drawings and engineer's calculations for building control.
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 Islington
Neighbouring places we cover include Barnsbury (0.7 miles) and Canonbury (0.7 miles).
- Side return extension in Barnsbury
- Side return extension in Canonbury
- Side return extension in Highbury
- Side return extension in Holloway
- Side return extension in Camden Town
Other work in Islington:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Islington
Is the site visit in Islington free?
Yes. We visit, measure up and talk through the options with no cost and no obligation.
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.
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 handle building control in Islington?
Yes. We apply to the council or a registered building control approver and hand over the completion certificate.
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.
How much does a side return extension cost in Islington?
As a guide, £2,990–£4,940 per square metre including VAT for a standard specification. For example, 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²): about £36,000–£59,500 at that rate. Your written price follows the survey.