St Albans, Hertfordshire
Side return extension in St Albans
Side return extension in St Albans: 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.
We cover St Albans (AL1 and AL2) as part of our Hertfordshire work. In St Albans 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 St Albans?
A side return extension in St Albans 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 |
Ground conditions, glazing, the roof and how far the house is opened up move the final figure within the range.
Do you need planning permission for a side return extension in St Albans?
The planning route for a side return extension in St Albans 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. We check your house's planning history and any conservation area before drawing, so the route is clear before you spend on plans.
What are homes in St Albans like to extend?
St Albans mixes Victorian terraces with 1930s semis, so both side returns and full-width kitchen extensions suit houses here.
How a side return extension in St Albans 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.
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.
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 St Albans
Neighbouring places we cover include Abbots Langley (4.7 miles) and Harpenden (4.7 miles).
- Side return extension in Abbots Langley
- Side return extension in Harpenden
- Side return extension in Hatfield
- Side return extension in Hemel Hempstead
- Side return extension in North Watford
Other work in St Albans:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in St Albans
What postcode areas do you cover around St Albans?
Including AL1 and AL2, and the surrounding Hertfordshire area.
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.
Is a side return permitted development?
Sometimes, as a side extension within the width and height limits, but not in conservation areas, and many terraces are in one.
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.
Can you match the brick or stone on my St Albans house?
We source the closest match and show you samples before ordering; reclaimed materials are often the best match on older houses.
Is the site visit in St Albans free?
Yes. We visit, measure up and talk through the options with no cost and no obligation.