Shirley, Greater London
Side return extension in Shirley
For homes in Shirley, 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.
Shirley sits in Greater London, with postcode districts including BR4, CR0 and SE25. Side return projects in Shirley 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 Shirley?
In Shirley, 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 Shirley?
Whether your side return extension in Shirley needs a planning application depends on its size, your house and any local restrictions.
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. 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 Shirley like to extend?
Much of Shirley 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 Shirley 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.
Drawings and budget
Floor plans and elevations for the options, each with a guide price.
Approvals
Permitted development check, prior approval or planning application, then Building Regulations drawings and structural calculations, plus party wall notices where they apply.
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 Shirley
Neighbouring places we cover include West Wickham (1.6 miles) and South Norwood (1.9 miles).
- Side return extension in West Wickham
- Side return extension in South Norwood
- Side return extension in South Croydon
- Side return extension in Croydon
- Side return extension in Beckenham
Other work in Shirley:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Shirley
Do you handle building control in Shirley?
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 Shirley?
Most single-storey rear extensions take 10 to 16 weeks on site and two-storey extensions 16 to 26 weeks, after design and approvals.
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.
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.
What postcode areas do you cover around Shirley?
Including BR4, CR0 and SE25, and the surrounding Greater London area.
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.