Rear Extension for Your Home
Rare house Extension
If you have space at the rear of your property and you want to make your home larger, you could consider adding a rear extension. Not only will a rear extension provide you with more space, but it could also improve your home life, allow more natural light into your home, and even add more value to your property. A rear home extension allows you to take a section of unused garden space and turn it into a seamless addition to your inside space.
Different Types of Rear Extensions
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Single-Storey Rear Extensions
As the most affordable type of rear extension, it is also the simplest. That being said, this doesn’t mean you can’t create something extraordinary. Many use these types of rear extensions to enlarge existing areas, such as kitchens and dining areas, and to encourage a more open-plan home layout.
Double-Storey Rear Extensions
With a double-storey extension, you can not only add more downstairs space to your home but also more upstairs space, adding highly valuable rooms like extra bedrooms and bathrooms. With more space and added rooms, you will increase the functionality and practicality of your home while also raising the property’s value for when it comes time to sell.
Wraparound Extensions
Combining both a side and rear extension creates a wraparound extension, meaning you are extending your home at the side and rear. This extension type means an incredible amount of space can be added to a property, with the possibility of creating multi-purpose areas, such as dining and living areas or extending the original floorplan on top of adding handy extra rooms like a boot room or utility space.
Glass Rear Extensions
For the ultimate modern aesthetic, a glass rear extension is the go-to option. This is a contemporary and striking way of extending your home and is particularly handy if you are hoping to increase the amount of natural light your home receives. Extra features like bi-fold doors and seamless garden integration will take this extension to its full potential.
Cost of Rear Extension
Rear house extensions are one of the most common home expansion methods and are typically charged per square metre. On average, you could expect to pay anywhere from £1,800-£3,000 per m2. Depending on the size of your home, this could result in a total spend of £40,000-£140,000. The exact amount you would pay is dependent on several key factors.
Factors Affecting Cost
- Size and Complexity: The larger the extension, the higher the cost, as these are typically charged per square metre. Plus, a complex design will raise costs due to extra materials and labour.
- Materials Used: Certain materials used in the construction of your rear extension will affect the price, with more premium materials raising costs.
- Interior Features: Along with the extension’s structure, the interior features will also contribute to the cost. Such features include lighting, heating and flooring.
- Additional Expenses: There are also additional fees to consider, like planning permission, labour costs, and architectural design services.
Figuring out the cost of an individual extension project is challenging when you consider all of the above, as well as potential hidden costs, such as landscaping and adjustments. This is why we always recommend working with a reliable construction company that can account for these expenses and help you come up with the right budget for your project. It’s also worth remembering that a rear extension is a long-term investment as it will add to your home’s value.
ARE OLDER HOMES OR NEW BUILDS MORE SUITED TO REAR EXTENSIONS?
Whether you own a new build home or a slightly older property, a rear extension is a great solution for introducing more space to your floor plan. However, with each type of home – newer homes or older properties – there are certain considerations to keep in mind. For example, with older homes, you will have to be more mindful of structural weakness, potential planning setbacks, and working around period features. New builds are slightly simpler, but there are still some factors to consider, like ensuring the use of modern materials and meeting any developer restrictions.
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CONSTRUCTION TIME FOR A REAR EXTENSION
The actual time it will take for your rear extension to be built depends on a few factors, in particular its size and complexity. As a rough guide, it takes around 6-12 weeks for a small single-storey rear extension to be built, and roughly 12-20 weeks for more complex builds such as double-storey rear extensions or wraparound extensions.
When thinking about timeframes, keep these factors in mind:
- Planning Permission Approvals: Depending on the type of extension you’re building and where you live, the planning process can delay your project.
- Weather Conditions: The time of year is also important as bad weather will affect how long your extension will take to be built.
- Materials: If you’re sourcing premium materials or materials that are tricky to come by, you may need to factor in the time it takes to source these materials.
Labour: Different extension contractors may vary in how much they can get done in a set amount of time. If efficiency is important to you, it’s a good idea to look for a construction team that can work speedily.
Planning Permission for a Rear Extension
Understanding the planning permissions associated with rear home extensions will allow you to extend your home with ease without the risk of non-compliance. However, planning permission may not be needed at all if you can build under permitted development rights. These rights will allow you to add a rear extension to your property without the need for full planning permission, but you must adhere to specific guidelines.
Situations Where Planning Permission is not Required
Whether or not your rear extension falls under permitted development rights is down to your ability to meet certain guidelines. If you are building a single-storey rear extension, you may do so without planning permission if:
- The extension does not extend further than 4 metres beyond the rear wall for detached properties.
- The extension does not extend further than 3 metres beyond the rear wall for all other houses.
- The extension does not exceed 4 metres in height.
- The extension does not cover more than 50% of the land at the back of the home.
The above points apply mainly to simple single-storey extensions. Yet, larger single-storey extensions and two-storey extensions may also be permitted, but these may require prior approval from the local planning authority through the neighbour consultation scheme. Plus, with two-storey extensions, there may be further guidelines you must adhere to for your project to fall under permitted development rights.
When is Planning Permission Mandatory?
If you cannot meet the above criteria, then planning permission will be mandatory for your rear extension. Also, where your home is located can affect the planning process. For example, planning permission may be required if your property is:
- Located in a Conservation Area: Houses located in conservation areas, national parks, or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty will have additional requirements and may not be extended under permitted development rights.
- A Listed Building: You will need full planning permission to extend a listed building with a rear extension. You will also need listed building consent.
Bespoke Construction Group can help you manage the planning process for your rear extension project. We will work with you and the relevant bodies to build an extension that you’re proud of while also ensuring complete compliance.
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HOUSE TYPES SUITABLE FOR A SIDE EXTENSION
TERRACED HOUSES
The main challenge with living in a terraced home is the lack of space, making a rear extension an ideal solution. By extending a terraced property at the rear, you can exchange some of your back garden space for more internal room, creating an open-plan kitchen, new dining area, or even a small garden room. For middle terraced homes, natural light can be harder to come by, but with the addition of a rear extension, you could incorporate some roof lights or glass doors into your home’s design, providing more opportunity for natural light to enter the home.
SEMI-DETACHED HOUSES
With more lateral space than a terraced property, semi-detached houses allow enough room for larger rear extensions, which offers even more extra space for your home. With a large single- or two-storey extension, you could create a stunning kitchen diner extension with bi-fold doors leading to the garden space. Alternatively, you can use the extra space for more living areas, such as an extended living room or the addition of a home office.
DETACHED HOUSES
Sharing no walls with any neighbours provides great flexibility and more creative freedom with your rear extension. As well as these benefits, you are likely to face fewer restrictions when you come to planning your build. If your detached property has a large garden space, you could build an expansive multi-room rear extension, opening you up to more complex designs that suit your needs, such as a luxury kitchen, home gym, or guest spaces.
Faq
HOW HIGH CAN A SINGLE-STOREY REAR EXTENSION BE?
That depends on whether you plan to seek full planning permission for your rear extension or wish to build under permitted development rights. Under permitted development, the maximum height is 4 metres, however, if the extension is within 2 metres of the boundary, the eaves height cannot exceed 3 metres. If you want your rear extension to be taller than this, you will need planning permission.
HOW MUCH DOES A 3M REAR EXTENSION COST?
The price of your rear extension will vary based on several factors, but for a basic 3m rear extension, you could expect to pay around £30,000-£50,000 and up to £100,000 for more complex designs. Such factors as your location, materials used, and project complexity will affect the final cost.
HOW FAR CAN I EXTEND THE REAR OF MY HOME?
If you want to build under permitted development rights, you can extend the rear of your home up to 4m for detached properties, and 3m for semi-detached and terraced homes. With prior approval, you may be able to extend up to 8m from the original home. If you would like to extend further. Planning permission will be required.
WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM SIZE I CAN EXTEND MY HOUSE?
Under permitted development, the rear extension must not cover more than 50% of the land around the original house. Plus, the height of the extension must not exceed 4m for detached properties and 3m for other property types, but this may be more if you are given prior approval. For two-storey rear extensions, you may extend 3m beyond the original wall and must be at least 7m from the rear boundary.
