Guide

Extension types — which one fits your house and brief?

The five formats we build across London, with realistic costs, planning notes and the trade-offs nobody mentions on a sales call.

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Indicative only. Final figures depend on your plot, party walls and spec — we confirm everything in writing after a free home visit.

01 · Extension type
02 · Size
22
10 m²40 m²80 m²
03 · Finish level
04 · Add-ons
Side return extension
Typical London cost
£55k–£90k+
01

Side-Return

Best for: Victorian and Edwardian terraces

Fills in the narrow alley beside the kitchen to square off the floor plan and pull light through the side.

Pros
  • Big visual impact for modest footprint
  • Often permitted development
  • Transforms a dark galley kitchen
Cons
  • Limited to terraces with a side return
  • Party wall works on both sides
Victorian terracesGalley kitchensAdding light
Full-width rear extension
Typical London cost
£70k–£120k+
02

Full-Width Rear

Best for: Maximising open-plan living

A single-storey extension across the full back of the house, typically 3–4m deep, opening onto the garden.

Pros
  • Largest single-storey footprint
  • Great for kitchen + dining + family
  • Works on most property types
Cons
  • May need planning over 3m
  • Reduces garden depth
Family homesOpen-plan layoutsGarden-facing kitchens
Wraparound extension
Typical London cost
£95k–£160k+
03

Wraparound

Best for: Combining side-return and rear

An L-shaped extension wrapping around the rear corner — the side-return + a full-width rear in one build.

Pros
  • Maximum ground-floor space
  • One coordinated design and build
  • Best ROI on ground floor
Cons
  • Almost always needs planning
  • Complex roof junctions
Large terracesSemi-detachedAmbitious open-plan briefs
Double-storey rear extension
Typical London cost
£110k–£200k+
04

Double-Storey

Best for: Adding a bedroom + downstairs space at once

Extends both ground and first floor — typically gives an enlarged kitchen below and an extra bedroom or en-suite above.

Pros
  • Adds bedrooms and living space
  • Best £/m² of any extension type
  • Strong property value uplift
Cons
  • Always needs planning
  • Longer build, bigger party wall scope
Growing familiesLong-term homesFull-house remodels
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