Rainham, Greater London
Side return extension in Rainham
For homes in Rainham, 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.
Rainham and its postcode districts RM10, RM12 and RM13 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 Rainham?
A side return extension in Rainham 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 Rainham?
Planning for a side return extension in Rainham 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 Rainham like to extend?
Rainham 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 Rainham 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 Rainham
Close by, we work in Elm Park, about 1.8 miles away, and Belvedere, about 2.6 miles away.
- Side return extension in Elm Park
- Side return extension in Belvedere
- Side return extension in Dagenham
- Side return extension in Hornchurch
- Side return extension in Thamesmead
Other work in Rainham:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Rainham
Do you handle building control in Rainham?
Yes. We apply to the council or a registered building control approver and hand over the completion certificate.
How long does a rear extension take to build in Rainham?
Most single-storey rear extensions take 10 to 16 weeks on site and two-storey extensions 16 to 26 weeks, after design and approvals.
Glass roof or solid roof with rooflights?
A glass roof gives the most light; a solid roof with long rooflights is warmer and quieter in rain. Both work.
Is the site visit in Rainham free?
Yes. We visit, measure up and talk through the options with no cost and no obligation.
What postcode areas do you cover around Rainham?
Including RM10, RM12 and RM13, and the surrounding Greater London area.
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.