Purley, Greater London
Side return extension in Purley
Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. If you live in Purley 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 Purley (CR2, CR5 and CR8) as part of our Greater London work. Side return projects in Purley usually start with a drainage survey of the side passage.
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 Purley?
In Purley, 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 |
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 Purley?
Planning for a side return extension in Purley 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 Purley like to extend?
Much of Purley 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 Purley 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.
Drawings and budget
Floor plans and elevations for the options, each with a guide price.
Planning and regulations
We take the design through the right planning route, then produce the construction drawings and engineer's calculations for building control.
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 Purley
Close by, we work in Kenley, about 0.9 miles away, and Sanderstead, about 1.5 miles away.
- Side return extension in Kenley
- Side return extension in Sanderstead
- Side return extension in Coulsdon
- Side return extension in South Croydon
- Side return extension in Wallington
Other work in Purley:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Purley
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Purley?
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.
What postcode areas do you cover around Purley?
Including CR2, CR5 and CR8, and the surrounding Greater London area.
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.
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.
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.