Tyne and Wear
Single-storey rear extensions in Tyne and Wear
Ground-floor space across the back of the house, usually for a kitchen, dining or family room. Across Tyne and Wear we handle the whole rear extension: survey, drawings, the planning route, building control and the build. Towns we cover here include Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland and South Shields.
On brick terraces and colliery houses like those around Newcastle upon Tyne, a single-storey rear extension is usually the simplest way to fix a small back kitchen without touching the bedrooms. Brick terraces, colliery houses and post-war semis make up much of Tyne and Wear. Former mining areas often need a coal mining risk check before foundations are designed.
How much does a single-storey rear extension cost in Tyne and Wear?
Guide prices for a single-storey rear extension in Tyne and Wear start from our North East England rate of £1,710–£2,790 per square metre, including VAT. North East prices are among the lowest in our range; former mining ground is the main foundation variable.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 3 m wide × 4 m deep (12 m²) | £20,500–£33,500 |
| 4 m wide × 5 m deep (20 m²) | £34,000–£56,000 |
| 4 m wide × 6 m deep (24 m²) | £41,000–£67,000 |
These are guide ranges; the written quote after the survey is the figure that counts.
Do you need planning permission in Tyne and Wear?
Under England's householder permitted development rules you can usually add 3 metres at the back of an attached house, or 4 metres on a detached house, without a planning application, as long as the extension stays under 4 metres high and its eaves stay under 3 metres where it is within 2 metres of a boundary.
If 3 or 4 metres is not enough, England's prior approval route allows 6 metres on a terraced or semi-detached house and 8 metres on a detached house for a single-storey rear extension. Neighbours are consulted, the council decides within 42 days, and the fee is £249, rising to £310 from 8 December 2026.
Conservation areas, National Parks, National Landscapes and the Broads restrict permitted development, and listed buildings always need listed building consent.
Where in Tyne and Wear do we work?
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 Tyne and Wear?
We cover 18 towns and districts in Tyne and Wear, including Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland and South Shields.
Who builds the extension?
Vetted building teams working under contract to us; your contract is with S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd.