Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
Side return extension in Leicester
Side return extension in Leicester: 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.
Leicester and its postcode districts LE1, LE3, LE4 and LE5 are part of our Leicestershire and Rutland coverage. Side returns suit the Victorian and Edwardian terraces found across parts of Leicestershire and Rutland, 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 Leicester?
For Leicester we work from the East Midlands rate: £2,230–£3,690 per square metre of new floor, including VAT, standard specification. East Midlands prices sit a little below our West Midlands baseline.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²) | £27,000–£44,000 |
| 2.5 m wide × 7 m deep (17.5 m²) | £39,000–£64,500 |
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 Leicester?
Whether your side return extension in Leicester 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. 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 Leicester like to extend?
Red-brick terraces and semis are typical of Leicester. Coal-mining legacy areas in parts of the East Midlands can need a Coal Authority check before foundations are designed.
How a side return extension in Leicester 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.
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 Leicester
Close by, we work in Belgrave, about 1.0 miles away, and Humberstone, about 2.0 miles away.
- Side return extension in Belgrave
- Side return extension in Humberstone
- Side return extension in Birstall
- Side return extension in Braunstone
- Side return extension in Aylestone
Other work in Leicester:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Leicester
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Leicester?
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.
Is the site visit in Leicester free?
Yes. We visit, measure up and talk through the options with no cost and no obligation.
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.
How long does a rear extension take to build in Leicester?
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 you match the brick or stone on my Leicester house?
We source the closest match and show you samples before ordering; reclaimed materials are often the best match on older houses.
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.