Knowle, West Midlands
Side return extension in Knowle
For homes in Knowle, a side return extension is often the simplest way to gain space without moving. Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. We take it from survey to completion certificate.
Knowle sits in the West Midlands, with postcode districts including B40. Side return projects in Knowle usually start with a drainage survey of the side passage.
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 Knowle?
In Knowle, our guide for a side return extension is £2,300–£3,800 per square metre including VAT for a standard specification. The West Midlands is the baseline for our guide prices.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²) | £27,500–£45,500 |
| 2.5 m wide × 7 m deep (17.5 m²) | £40,500–£66,500 |
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 Knowle?
Planning for a side return extension in Knowle follows the English householder rules.
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 Knowle like to extend?
Red-brick terraces and 1930s semis make up much of Knowle. Many already have a small kitchen lean-to at the back, which a new rear extension usually replaces rather than adds to.
How a side return extension in Knowle 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.
Drawings and budget
Floor plans and elevations for the options, each with a guide price.
Paperwork handled
Planning, prior approval or permitted development, Building Regulations approval, structural design and party wall notices are all handled by us.
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 Knowle
We also build side return extensions in nearby Solihull (2.9 miles) and Shirley (4.1 miles).
- Side return extension in Solihull
- Side return extension in Shirley
- Side return extension in Acocks Green
- Side return extension in Chelmsley Wood
- Side return extension in Kenilworth
Other work in Knowle:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Knowle
Can you match the brick or stone on my Knowle house?
We source the closest match and show you samples before ordering; reclaimed materials are often the best match on older houses.
Will I need a structural engineer?
Yes for the beam over the new opening and usually the foundations; we arrange them and their calculations go to building control.
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.
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.
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.
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Knowle?
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.