Swanley, Kent
Side return extension in Swanley
We plan and build side return extensions for homeowners in Swanley. Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. Start with a free site visit, then a written price once the design is agreed.
Swanley sits in Kent, with postcode districts including BR8. Side returns suit the Victorian and Edwardian terraces found across parts of Kent, 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 Swanley?
In Swanley, our guide for a side return extension is £2,580–£4,260 per square metre including VAT for a standard specification. 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 |
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 Swanley?
The planning route for a side return extension in Swanley 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 Swanley like to extend?
Around Swanley 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 Swanley 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.
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 Swanley
We also build side return extensions in nearby Bexley (3.2 miles) and Chelsfield (3.3 miles).
- Side return extension in Bexley
- Side return extension in Chelsfield
- Side return extension in Orpington
- Side return extension in Sidcup
- Side return extension in Dartford
Other work in Swanley:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Swanley
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.
Can you match the brick or stone on my Swanley house?
We source the closest match and show you samples before ordering; reclaimed materials are often the best match on older houses.
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.
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 Swanley?
Including BR8, and the surrounding Kent area.
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Swanley?
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.