Hertfordshire
Single-storey rear extensions in Hertfordshire
Ground-floor space across the back of the house, usually for a kitchen, dining or family room. Rear extensions in Hertfordshire: we cover 32 towns including Watford, Hemel Hempstead and Stevenage, with design, approvals and the build under one contract.
A single-storey rear extension in Watford is mostly built from the garden side, so the house stays usable for most of the job. Hertfordshire mixes Victorian terraces with 1930s semis, so both side returns and full-width kitchen extensions suit houses here.
How much does a single-storey rear extension cost in Hertfordshire?
In Hertfordshire, our guide for a single-storey rear extension is £2,010–£3,290 per square metre including VAT for a standard specification. 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 |
|---|---|
| 3 m wide × 4 m deep (12 m²) | £24,000–£39,500 |
| 4 m wide × 5 m deep (20 m²) | £40,500–£65,500 |
| 4 m wide × 6 m deep (24 m²) | £48,500–£79,000 |
These are guide ranges; the written quote after the survey is the figure that counts.
Do you need planning permission in Hertfordshire?
English permitted development (Class A) allows a single-storey rear extension of 3 metres on a terraced or semi-detached house and 4 metres on a detached one, measured from the original house, with a maximum height of 4 metres and eaves of no more than 3 metres within 2 metres of a boundary.
England also has the larger home extension route: a single-storey rear extension of up to 6 metres on an attached house or 8 metres on a detached house, after prior approval from the council. The council notifies your neighbours and has 42 days to decide; the fee is £249 (£310 for applications made from 8 December 2026). The route is not available on designated land such as conservation areas.
Conservation areas, National Parks, National Landscapes and the Broads restrict permitted development, and listed buildings always need listed building consent.
Where in Hertfordshire do we work?
- Watford
- Hemel Hempstead
- Stevenage
- St Albans
- Welwyn Garden City
- Cheshunt
- Hatfield
- Bishops Stortford
- Borehamwood
- Hitchin
- Hoddesdon
- Letchworth Garden City
- North Watford
- Harpenden
- Bushey
- Hertford
- Rickmansworth
- Potters Bar
- Berkhamsted
- Ware
- Enfield Lock
- Royston
- Croxley Green
- Broxbourne
- West Watford
- Batchworth
- Tring
- Chorleywood
- Codicote
- Baldock
- Abbots Langley
- Waltham Cross
FAQ
Questions people ask
How deep can a single-storey rear extension be without planning?
In England, 3 metres on an attached house and 4 metres on a detached house under permitted development, or up to 6 and 8 metres with prior approval. Wales allows 4 metres; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own limits.
Is a flat roof or a pitched roof better?
A warm flat roof keeps the extension low under first-floor windows and suits a roof lantern; a pitched or lean-to roof gives a vaulted ceiling. Both last for decades when built properly.
Can I stay in the house during the build?
Usually yes. The noisiest, dustiest stage, removing the back wall, is kept to the final weeks and screened off. Most families set up a temporary kitchen elsewhere in the house.
Do you cover all of Hertfordshire?
We cover 32 towns and districts in Hertfordshire, including Watford, Hemel Hempstead and Stevenage.
Who builds the extension?
Vetted building teams working under contract to us; your contract is with S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd.