What is a side return extension?

A side return extension fills the narrow passage that runs alongside the back addition of many Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses. It widens a galley kitchen into a proper kitchen-diner, usually with a sloping glazed roof to keep the room bright.
How much does a side return extension cost in Bingley?
In Bingley, a side return extension typically costs £2,150–£3,050 per m² of floor area, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). For a typical 12 m² project that is roughly £26,000–£36,500. 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 (8 m²) | £17,000–£24,500 |
| Typical project (12 m²) | £26,000–£36,500 |
| Larger project (17 m²) | £36,500–£52,000 |
| Rate per m² | £2,150–£3,050 |
The biggest cost drivers are:
- Access through the house for materials
- Length of the side return
- Glazed roof specification
- Party wall surveyor fees
Use the guide price tool to see how size and specification change the figure, then ask for a written, itemised quote.
Do you need planning permission for a side return extension in Bingley?
Here is how the rules work for a side return extension in England. In England a side return infill is treated as a side extension. It may be permitted development if it is single-storey, no more than 4 metres high and no wider than half the original house, but not in a conservation area. Because side returns sit on the boundary, party wall notices are almost always needed.
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
On a typical side return extension we handle:
- Drawings and planning or permitted development check
- Floor levelling, heating and electrics
- Steel beams to remove the side wall
- Glazed or solid roof with insulation
- Foundations and drainage, including any build-over agreement
- Survey of party walls, drains and the existing back addition
How long does it take?
Build time is typically 10 to 14 weeks on site. Design and approvals come first and typically take 3 to 4 months, depending on the approval route.
Building in Bingley
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.
Our Bingley coverage includes postcode districts BD16, and we also work in nearby places such as Keighley, Shipley and Bradford.
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
Design and pricing
Design options, then a fixed quote based on the chosen drawings and specification.
- 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 return extensions in Bingley
How do you get materials in?
Mid-terrace houses often have no rear access, so materials come through the house. We protect floors and plan deliveries carefully.
How much space does a side return add?
Typically 1.5 to 2.5 metres of width along the back addition. It often turns a narrow galley kitchen into a family kitchen-diner.
Who approves a side return extension in Bingley?
Planning matters in Bingley go to the council covering your address, and the work needs building control approval. We prepare and submit the applications for you.
How much does a side return extension cost in Bingley?
In Bingley, a side return extension typically costs £2,150–£3,050 per m² of floor area, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). A typical 12 m² project comes to roughly £26,000–£36,500. Your fixed price depends on the survey and drawings.
Can I stay in the house?
Usually, though the kitchen will be out of action for several weeks. We plan a temporary kitchen area where possible.
