Balham, Greater London
Wraparound extension in Balham
For homes in Balham, a wraparound extension is often the simplest way to gain space without moving. An L-shaped extension that fills the side return and runs across the back. We take it from survey to completion certificate.
Balham sits in Greater London, with postcode districts including SW4, SW11 and SW12. In Balham we usually draw the wraparound and a simpler rear-only option side by side, so the planning risk and cost difference are clear.
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 wraparound extension cost in Balham?
For Balham we work from the London rate: £2,860–£4,680 per square metre of new floor, including VAT, standard specification. London prices sit at the top of our range because of labour rates, access through the house, parking suspensions and skip licences.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| L-shaped, about 22 m² of new floor | £63,000–£103,000 |
| L-shaped, about 30 m² of new floor | £86,000–£140,500 |
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 wraparound extension in Balham?
The planning route for a wraparound extension in Balham 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 Balham like to extend?
Much of Balham is Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing with narrow back additions, which suits side returns, wraparounds and 3 metre rear extensions. Many streets are in conservation areas, gardens are short, and almost everything comes through the house or along a rear alley.
How a wraparound extension in Balham comes together
Look round and measure
A free visit to see the back of the house, measure it, check the drains and boundaries and hear what you need.
Options and costs
We draw layout options and price each one, so the budget shapes the design rather than surprising you later.
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.
Wraparound extensions near Balham
Close by, we work in Brixton Hill, about 1.2 miles away, and Earlsfield, about 1.5 miles away.
- Wraparound extension in Brixton Hill
- Wraparound extension in Earlsfield
- Wraparound extension in Streatham
- Wraparound extension in Furzedown
- Wraparound extension in Battersea
Other work in Balham:
FAQ
Wraparound extension questions in Balham
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.
Do you handle building control in Balham?
Yes. We apply to the council or a registered building control approver and hand over the completion certificate.
Is it worth it over a side return alone?
If you want a dining table and a sofa as well as the kitchen, usually yes.
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 a party wall agreement?
In England, usually yes if the extension is on or near a shared boundary or the foundations are close to a neighbour's building. We serve the notices.
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Balham?
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.