What is a side extension?

A side extension builds into the space beside a semi-detached or detached house, often over a driveway or side passage. It can be single-storey, for a utility room, downstairs toilet or study, or two-storey to add a bedroom above.
How much does a side extension cost in Doncaster?
In Doncaster, a side extension typically costs £1,600–£2,450 per m² of floor area, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). For a typical 28 m² project that is roughly £45,000–£68,500. That range is adjusted for Yorkshire and the Humber, where domestic building work typically costs around 7% below the national average. Design, structural calculations and council fees are extra.
| Size or type | Guide range |
|---|---|
| Smaller project (20 m²) | £32,000–£49,000 |
| Typical project (28 m²) | £45,000–£68,500 |
| Larger project (39 m²) | £62,500–£95,500 |
| Rate per m² | £1,600–£2,450 |
The biggest cost drivers are:
- Internal fit-out of the new rooms
- Single or two storeys
- Boundary walls and access for materials
- Steel work where the side wall is opened
Your exact price depends on the survey and drawings. The guide price tool gives a quick range in the meantime.
Do you need planning permission for a side extension in Doncaster?
Whether you need planning permission depends on your house and its location in England. In England a single-storey side extension can be permitted development if it is no more than 4 metres high and no wider than half the width of the original house. Side extensions of more than one storey always need planning permission, as do side extensions in conservation areas, National Parks and National Landscapes.
Building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control service or a registered building control approver. The work is inspected at key stages, such as foundations, drainage and insulation, and a completion certificate is issued at the end.
Our first visit includes a check of your planning history, so you know the route before paying for drawings.
What we handle
From survey to sign-off, the job normally involves:
- Survey of the boundary, drains and access
- Building control completion
- Structural calculations
- Electrics, heating and plastering
- Planning drawings and application
- Foundations and drainage alterations
How long does it take?
Allow 10 to 16 weeks on site depending on size and storeys. Before that, surveys, drawings and approvals usually take 3 to 4 months, longer if the council asks for changes.
Building in Doncaster
Yorkshire and the Humber has stone and brick terraces as well as inter-war and newer estates, so materials matching is an early design question.
If your home is in Doncaster or close by in Bentley, Adwick le Street and South Elmsall, a free home visit is the first step.
How it works
- 01
Free visit
We look at the property, talk through what you want and measure up. There is no charge and no obligation.
- 02
Drawings and written quote
We prepare the design and give you a written, itemised quote with inclusions and exclusions.
- 03
Permissions sorted
Applications, building control and neighbour arrangements, all before the start date.
- 04
Build and handover
Work follows the agreed programme, with inspections along the way and a completion certificate at the end.
Questions about side extensions in Doncaster
Will a two-storey side extension look odd?
Not if it is designed well. Setting it back from the front and keeping the roof lower than the main ridge usually gives a natural look and is what most councils ask for.
Will I lose my driveway?
A side extension often takes the side drive. We look at whether parking can be kept at the front and whether a dropped kerb is needed.
Do you build side extensions in Doncaster?
Yes. We build side extensions across Doncaster, including postcodes DN1, DN2 and DN55. Every project starts with a free home visit.
How much does a side extension cost in Doncaster?
In Doncaster, a side extension typically costs £1,600–£2,450 per m² of floor area, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). A typical 28 m² project comes to roughly £45,000–£68,500. Your fixed price depends on the survey and drawings.
How close to the boundary can I build?
You can build up to the boundary, but the eaves height near it is limited under permitted development, and planning officers often want a gap at first floor. If you build on or near a shared boundary, party wall rules may apply.
