Woolston, Hampshire
Side return extension in Woolston
Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. We design, get the approvals for and build side return extensions in Woolston and the surrounding area, with one contract from the first survey to building control sign-off.
Woolston and its postcode districts SO14, SO18 and SO19 are part of our Hampshire coverage. Side returns suit the Victorian and Edwardian terraces found across parts of Hampshire, 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 Woolston?
Guide prices for a side return extension in Woolston start from our South East England rate of £2,580–£4,260 per square metre, including VAT. South East prices run above our West Midlands baseline, mainly on labour rates and clay-soil foundations.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²) | £31,000–£51,000 |
| 2.5 m wide × 7 m deep (17.5 m²) | £45,000–£74,500 |
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 Woolston?
Whether your side return extension in Woolston needs a planning application depends on its size, your house and any local restrictions.
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 Woolston like to extend?
Around Woolston the housing ranges from inter-war semis to 1960s and 1970s estates with good-sized gardens. Many of the newer estates had permitted development rights removed by condition, so we check the planning history before anything is drawn.
How a side return extension in Woolston 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.
Approvals
Permitted development check, prior approval or planning application, then Building Regulations drawings and structural calculations, plus party wall notices where they apply.
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 Woolston
From Woolston, the nearest places we also cover are Southampton (1.4 miles) and Portswood (2.4 miles).
- Side return extension in Southampton
- Side return extension in Portswood
- Side return extension in Hythe
- Side return extension in Hedge End
- Side return extension in Totton
Other work in Woolston:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Woolston
Is the site visit in Woolston free?
Yes. We visit, measure up and talk through the options with no cost and no obligation.
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.
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.
Can you match the brick or stone on my Woolston house?
We source the closest match and show you samples before ordering; reclaimed materials are often the best match on older houses.
Do you handle building control in Woolston?
Yes. We apply to the council or a registered building control approver and hand over the completion certificate.
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.