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 Great Malvern?
In Great Malvern, a side extension typically costs £1,650–£2,550 per m² of floor area, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). For a typical 28 m² project that is roughly £46,000–£71,500. Prices in the West Midlands sit near the national average for this kind of work, and the range for Great Malvern reflects that. Design, structural calculations and council fees are extra.
| Size or type | Guide range |
|---|---|
| Smaller project (20 m²) | £33,000–£51,000 |
| Typical project (28 m²) | £46,000–£71,500 |
| Larger project (39 m²) | £64,500–£99,500 |
| Rate per m² | £1,650–£2,550 |
The main things that change the cost:
- Internal fit-out of the new rooms
- Boundary walls and access for materials
- Steel work where the side wall is opened
- Drains, gas meters or soil pipes that need moving
A guide range is only a starting point: the guide price tool gives an instant figure for your size, and a free survey turns it into a fixed quote.
Do you need planning permission for a side extension in Great Malvern?
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.
Where work involves a shared wall, building on the boundary, or digging foundations within 3 metres of a neighbour’s building and deeper than its foundations (or within 6 metres for deeper work), the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notices must be served before work starts.
We check this for your address before design work starts, so there are no surprises later.
What we handle
What we take care of:
- Survey of the boundary, drains and access
- Electrics, heating and plastering
- Foundations and drainage alterations
- Planning drawings and application
- Structural calculations
- Building control completion
How long does it take?
The build itself usually takes 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 Great Malvern
The West Midlands has large numbers of 1930s semis and Victorian terraces, which suit rear extensions, side extensions and dormer loft conversions.
Great Malvern sits in Worcestershire, about 7 miles south-west of Worcester. We cover the whole of Great Malvern, including postcodes WR14.
How it works
- 01
Survey and brief
We visit, discuss your ideas and budget, and survey the property or site at no cost.
- 02
Design and fixed quote
Drawings, structural calculations and an itemised, fixed price for the agreed specification.
- 03
Approvals in place
We handle planning, building control and neighbour notices before work starts.
- 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 Great Malvern
How long does it take?
Roughly 10 to 16 weeks on site once approvals are in place, depending on whether it is one or two storeys.
Can a side extension go over a drain?
Often yes, with a build-over agreement from the water company or by rerouting the drain. We check this during the survey.
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.
How much does a side extension cost in Great Malvern?
In Great Malvern, a side extension typically costs £1,650–£2,550 per m² of floor area, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). A typical 28 m² project comes to roughly £46,000–£71,500. Your fixed price depends on the survey and drawings.
Do you build side extensions in Great Malvern?
Yes. We build side extensions across Great Malvern, including postcodes WR14. Every project starts with a free home visit.
