Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire
Side return extension in Bishops Stortford
Side return extension in Bishops Stortford: infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. We measure the house, show you what the rules allow, price it in writing and build it.
Bishops Stortford sits in Hertfordshire, with postcode districts including CM23. In Bishops Stortford 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 Bishops Stortford?
A side return extension in Bishops Stortford is priced at £2,440–£4,030 per square metre including VAT as a guide, before kitchen fit-out and fees. East of England prices run slightly above our West Midlands baseline; clay soils near trees are the main foundation variable.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²) | £29,500–£48,500 |
| 2.5 m wide × 7 m deep (17.5 m²) | £42,500–£70,500 |
We put a fixed price in writing once the design is agreed, and explain any provisional sums such as foundations.
Do you need planning permission for a side return extension in Bishops Stortford?
The planning route for a side return extension in Bishops Stortford is set by England's householder rules and your council.
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 Bishops Stortford like to extend?
Bishops Stortford mixes Victorian terraces with 1930s semis, so both side returns and full-width kitchen extensions suit houses here.
How a side return extension in Bishops Stortford 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.
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 Bishops Stortford
Close by, we work in Harlow, about 6.8 miles away, and Ware, about 9.0 miles away.
- Side return extension in Harlow
- Side return extension in Ware
- Side return extension in Hoddesdon
- Side return extension in Saffron Walden
- Side return extension in Hertford
Other work in Bishops Stortford:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Bishops Stortford
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.
How long does a rear extension take to build in Bishops Stortford?
Most single-storey rear extensions take 10 to 16 weeks on site and two-storey extensions 16 to 26 weeks, after design and approvals.
Do I need my neighbour's permission?
Not their permission, but in England and Wales you must serve party wall notices, and a neighbour can consent in writing or ask for a surveyor's award.
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Bishops Stortford?
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.
Do you handle building control in Bishops Stortford?
Yes. We apply to the council or a registered building control approver and hand over the completion certificate.
How much does a side return extension cost in Bishops Stortford?
As a guide, £2,440–£4,030 per square metre including VAT for a standard specification. For example, 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²): about £29,500–£48,500 at that rate. Your written price follows the survey.