House Extension Richmond: Side Return, Rear and Wraparound Extensions
A house extension in Richmond, designed, approved and built by one in-house team. We draw the plans, handle planning and party wall notices, and build the extension with our own builders, Gas Safe plumbers and NICEIC electricians, so you have one project manager and one fixed price from start to finish.
Drawings and planning included · No subcontractors · Fixed price · Free site visit
A homeowner on Ormond Road had a 3.4 metre wide, north-facing galley kitchen and an unused side passage beside it. An architect had already charged her £8,500 for drawings and a planning application, which the council refused: the flat roof and rooflight position did not suit the conservation area.
We redesigned the side return with a pitched section where it met the existing rear roof, conservation rooflights and stock brick to match the house, and submitted a new application. It was approved nine weeks later. The build took thirteen weeks.
The kitchen became a 4.5 metre-wide open-plan kitchen and dining room, with a full-width rooflight, bifold doors to the garden and wet underfloor heating. The fixed price, including the redesign and planning application, was £54,000. The final invoice was £54,000.
Which House Extension Suits Your Richmond Home?
Most Richmond homes can gain space at ground-floor level in one of four ways. The right choice depends on the shape of your house, the depth of your garden and whether you are in a conservation area.
– Side return: fills the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian terrace and widens the kitchen by 1–1.5 metres.
– Rear extension: extends into the garden, usually by 3–6 metres, for a larger kitchen, dining and family room.
– Wraparound: combines a side return and a rear extension in an L-shape for the most ground-floor space.
– Double-storey: adds a ground-floor room with a bedroom or en suite above.
At the free site visit, we measure the options that fit your home and explain the planning position for each, so you can compare them before you commit.
Side Return Extension in Richmond
The side return is the classic extension for Richmond’s Victorian terraces. The original kitchen sits in a narrow rear addition, with a passage of 1–1.5 metres running alongside it. Building over that passage, and usually removing the wall between the kitchen and the rear reception room, turns a dark galley into a wide, open-plan kitchen and dining room.
Bringing in light
Because a side return fills the space that used to be the kitchen window, the roof does the work instead. A full-width rooflight or glazed roof over the new section keeps the room bright, and glazed doors to the garden complete the change.
Side extensions are never permitted development in a conservation area, so a side return in most of Richmond needs full planning permission. Approvals tend to follow the same design principles: brick to match the house, a roof that meets the existing rear roof neatly, and conservation-style rooflights rather than large projecting glass. We design to these principles from the start.
Party Walls
A side return is built on, or right next to, the boundary, so party wall notices are almost always needed. We prepare and serve them as part of the job.
Side return extensions start from £45,000 and take 10–14 weeks on site after planning.
Rear Extension in Richmond
A rear extension suits homes with a reasonable garden, including Edwardian and 1930s semis in Kew, East Sheen and Mortlake, and larger Victorian villas. It creates the open-plan kitchen, dining and family room most families want, with glazed doors opening straight onto the garden.
How deep should it be?
A 3–4 metre extension gives room for a dining table and garden doors. At 4–5 metres, you can usually add a kitchen island and a seating area. Extensions of 5–6 metres create a full kitchen, dining and living space, but need careful design to keep light reaching the middle of the house.
When you can use permitted development
A single-storey rear extension can often be built without planning permission, even in a conservation area. The usual limits are 3 metres deep for a terraced or semi-detached house and 4 metres for a detached house, no higher than 4 metres, and matching materials. Flats, listed buildings and homes covered by an Article 4 direction don’t have these rights. We apply for a Lawful Development Certificate so you have written confirmation, which you’ll need when you sell.
Underfloor heating and the new kitchen
A new extension floor is the best moment to lay wet underfloor heating, before the screed goes down. Many clients also renovate the kitchen at the same time, so the extension and kitchen are planned and priced as one project. For kitchen-led projects, see Kitchen Renovation Richmond.
Single-storey rear extensions start from £58,000 for 3–4 metres and take 10–14 weeks on site.
Wraparound and Double-Storey Extensions
Wraparound Extensions
A wraparound combines a side return and a rear extension in one L-shaped build. It gives the largest possible ground floor on a Victorian terrace, usually with the wall to the rear reception removed as well. Wraparounds start from £80,000 and take 14–18 weeks on site.
Double-Storey Extensions
Adding a second storey creates a bedroom or en suite above the new ground-floor room from a single planning application. Double-storey rear extensions are not permitted development in a conservation area, and the council looks closely at their effect on neighbours’ light and privacy. They start from £110,000 for a rear extension and £120,000 for a side extension on wider plots, and take 16–20 weeks on site.
Much of Richmond lies in conservation areas, which affects what you can build without permission and how the council judges a design. It doesn’t mean extensions are refused. It means the design must suit the house and the street.
What the council looks for
Brick and roof materials that match the house, a roof shape that sits comfortably against the existing building, glazing in proportion to the walls, and no unreasonable loss of light or privacy for neighbours. Designs that follow these principles are regularly approved.
Listed homes, Kew Gardens and the Richmond Hill view
Listed buildings need Listed Building Consent for almost any extension. Homes near Kew Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, may need a heritage impact assessment with the application. A few properties sit within the protected view from Richmond Hill, though most rear extensions are well outside it. We checked all three at the site visit.
How long planning takes
The council normally decides householder applications within 8 weeks, but allow 8–12 weeks in practice, plus a few weeks beforehand for drawings and any pre-application advice.
House Extension Richmond Prices for 2026
Prices include architectural drawings, the planning application, structural calculations, party wall notices, building control, wet underfloor heating and electrics. All prices exclude VAT.
Extension | From | Time on site
Side return | £45,000 | 10–14 weeks
Single-storey rear, 3–4 m | £58,000 | 10–14 weeks
Single-storey rear, 4–5 m | £72,000 | 12–16 weeks
Single-storey rear, 5–6 m | £88,000 | 14–18 weeks
Wraparound | £80,000 | 14–18 weeks
Rear extension with new kitchen | £78,000 | 12–16 weeks
Double-storey rear | £110,000 | 16–20 weeks
Double-storey side | £120,000 | 16–20 weeks
Times are on-site, after planning permission or a Lawful Development Certificate is in place.
How Your House Extension Works
We aim to visit within 48 hours to measure the house and garden, look at drainage and neighbouring walls, and confirm the planning position.
2. Design and fixed-price quote
Within five working days, you will receive a fixed-price quote covering drawings, planning, structural calculations and the full build.
3. Planning and party wall notices
We submit the planning application or Lawful Development Certificate, serve party wall notices and book building control.
4. Building the extension
Foundations, walls and roof come first, then glazing, underfloor heating, electrics and plastering. The existing back wall is usually opened up near the end, so you can keep using your kitchen for as long as possible.
5. Sign-off and Certificates
You receive building control sign-off, your electrical installation certificate, a Gas Safe certificate where gas work is involved and a 12-month workmanship guarantee.
House renovation Richmond - Areas We Cover
TW9 Richmond
Richmond town centre, Richmond Hill, Richmond Green, Richmond Riverside, Kew, Kew Gardens, Kew Road, Pagoda Avenue, Hill Street, George Street, The Green, Maids of Honour Row, The Vineyard, Ormond Road, Sheen Road
TW10 Richmond
Ham, Petersham, Richmond Park borders, Ham Common, Denbigh Gardens, Onslow Avenue
SW13 Barnes
Barnes village, Castelnau, Church Road, Lonsdale Road
SW14 East Sheen and Mortlake
Upper Richmond Road West, Sheen Lane, Mortlake High Street
SW15 Putney
Putney Heath, Lower Richmond Road, Felsham Road
SW19 Wimbledon
Wimbledon Village, Worple Road
Based at 289 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge SW3, 25 minutes from Richmond TW9. Free site visit within 48 hours. Fixed-price quotation within five working days. All prices exclude VAT. Call 020 7129 7418.
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Book Your Free Extension Site Visit in Richmond
We’ll visit within 48 hours, measure your options, confirm the planning position and send a fixed-price quote within five working days.
– Drawings, planning and party wall notices included
– Builders, plumbers and electricians directly employed
– Fixed price: the price we quote is the price you pay
– 12-month workmanship guarantee
Free site visit within 48 hours. Fixed-price quotation within five working days.
Chelsea Property Renovation & Maintenance Ltd
289 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW3 2DY
📞 020 7129 7418
📧 info@chelseapropertyrenovation.co.uk
🌐 chelseapropertyrenovation.co.uk
Gas Safe Registered • NICEIC Approved • Established 2000
25+ Years Central London Experience
We’ve completed home renovations in Central London since 2000. Over 150 projects across Chelsea, Belgravia, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Marylebone, Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia, and Westminster.
Fully Insured & Guaranteed
£10M public liability insurance, £10M employers' liability insurance, and professional indemnity coverage. All work is fully guaranteed. Building control certificates provided. Electrical and Gas Safe certificates where applicable. Written guarantees on all home renovation services Central London. Insurance certificates available on request.
Quality Materials & Expert Craftsmanship
We specify and source high-quality materials from established manufacturers ensuring reliability and longevity.
Conservation Area Specialists
95% planning approval rate in Central London conservation areas. We've successfully renovated listed buildings and strict conservation properties across Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea. We know what conservation officers want to see before we submit applications.
200+ Satisfied Customers
Proven track record across Central London with hundreds of completed renovations. Our reputation built on exceptional project management, quality workmanship, transparent pricing, and beautiful results that exceed expectations.
Meet Our Trusted Team
John Michaels
Renovation Consultant
Dan Wright
Plumbing and Heating Engineer
Glenn Knowles
CEO
Harry Collins
Repair Technician
Ready to transform your Central London property? Get your fast quote today. Contact Chelsea Property Renovation & Maintenance Ltd
How much does a house extension cost in Richmond?
A house extension in Richmond starts from £45,000 for a side return, £58,000 for a 3–4 metre single-storey rear extension and £80,000 for a wraparound extension. Double-storey rear extensions start from £110,000. A rear extension with a new kitchen starts from £78,000. Prices include architectural drawings, the planning application, structural calculations, party wall notices and building control. Every project gets a free site visit and a fixed-price quote. All prices exclude VAT.
Do I need planning permission for a house extension in Richmond?
It depends on the type of extension and where you live. Side returns and double-storey extensions in a conservation area always need planning permission. A single-storey rear extension can often be built under permitted development, even in a conservation area, if it stays within the size limits and the house isn’t a flat or listed. We confirm the position at the free site visit and apply for planning permission or a Lawful Development Certificate as needed.
How long does a house extension take?
A side return or a 3–4 metre rear extension takes 10–14 weeks on site, a wraparound 14–18 weeks and a double-storey extension 16–20 weeks. Where planning permission is needed, allow 8–12 weeks for the council’s decision, plus time for drawings and party wall notices beforehand.
Do I need a party wall agreement for my extension?
Usually, yes. Side returns are built on or near the boundary, and most rear extensions need foundations close to a neighbour’s wall, which is covered by the Party Wall Act. Depending on the work, notices must be served one or two months before it starts. We prepare and serve the notices as part of the fixed price.
What's included in a fixed-price extension quote?
Your quote covers architectural drawings, the planning application, structural calculations, party wall notices, foundations, brickwork, roof, rooflights, glazed doors, wet underfloor heating, electrics, plastering and building control sign-off. You receive an electrical installation certificate, a Gas Safe certificate for any gas work and a 12-month workmanship guarantee.
Do you use subcontractors?
No. Our builders, bricklayers, roofers, Gas Safe plumbers and NICEIC electricians are all directly employed. You deal with one project manager and one fixed price from the first drawing to the final finish.
Which areas around Richmond do you cover?
We build extensions across Richmond and Kew (TW9), Ham and Petersham (TW10), Barnes (SW13), East Sheen and Mortlake (SW14), Putney (SW15) and Wimbledon (SW19). We aim to visit within 48 hours and send a fixed-price quote within five working days. To book your free site visit, call 020 7129 7418.
Central London
Your local team for fast, reliable electrical service throughout Central London.
Address:
289 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London, SW3 2DY
Email:
info@chelseapropertyrenovation.co.uk
Phone number:
020 7129 7418
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 8:30 am-6 pm
Saturday -Sunday - Emergency only
Areas We Serve:
- Belgravia
- Pimlico
- Mayfair
- Marylebone
- Victoria
- Paddington
- Hammersmith & Fulham
- ower Hamlets
- Lambeth
- Plus Hackney
- Chelsea
- South Kensington
- Knightsbridge
- Notting Hill
- Earl's Court
- Camden Town
- Barbican
- Bank
- Liverpool Street
- Moorgate
- King's Cross
- Primrose Hill
- Hampstead
- Kentish Town
- Angel
- Barnsbury
- Canonbury
- Highbury
- Clerkenwell
- Southwark
We Are Accredited
All our tradesmen, plumbers, heating engineers, electricians, and builders are fully accredited by leading industry bodies, ensuring the highest standards of quality and professionalism on every job.
