Rear house extension

Everything you need to know about rear house extensions in South Tyneside and the United Kingdom, including types of rear extension there is, what are the planning rules, costs associated when building a rear house extension and questions to bare in mind before starting your project.

Rear house extensions are the best way forward for home owners in the United Kingdom that are in need of extra space for their kitchen, dinning, living or socialising areas. It is no surprise that we have seen a high demand especially in South Tyneside areas for rear house extension and people seeking additional space to their property.

If for you it is important to have open plan, larger kitchen or dining areas then extending your home at rear would be an excellent choice. The rear extension can easily create excess space in the back of your house.

The rear extension can be created on terraced houses, end of terraced houses, semi detached houses or detached houses including Period style properties, Edwardian, Victorian or modern homes.

What are some of the rear extension types?

Rear house extension on the terraced house

Modern kitchen renovation by Thompson Building Services

Rear house extension on the terraced house, end of terraced house, semi detached and detached properties – typically rear house extension on the terraced, end of terraced, semi detached and detached properties you will gain open plan additional area for your kitchen, dining and living areas. They are usually the width of your existing property and most commonly extend to 3 or 6 meters towards the rear of the property and rear house extensions have either a flat roof or a pitched roof.

Terraced, semi detached and detached house extensions offer some great features that can be added to the rear house extension such as:

Rear house extension with pitched roof features – the pitched roof would be covered in roof tiles such as clay, concrete of slate tiles, velux lights can be installed to the pitched roof, at the rear of the wall there can be various types of glazing but the most common are bi-fold doors, sliding doors, crittall or french doors. The finish of the exterior walls comes in render, brick finish or cladding such as zinc clad. In addition the patio towards the rear of the property can be added. Open plan internally for open plan living, WC underneath the stairs and utility area for your laundry.

Rear house extension with flat roof

features- the features include same as above except the flat roof would have flat roof skylight or lantern added instead of velux windows. The flat roof waterproofing systems would be either out of GRP waterproofing systems or roofing felt.

Internally the rear house extension can have a large kitchen with the kitchen island, underfloor heating, upgraded electrical and plumbing solution.

Rear house extensions come in single storey or two storey.

What are the permitted development rules for rear house extensions?

Rear house extension permitted development

Rules, known as ‘permitted development’ rights, allow you to extend a house without needing to apply for planning permission if specific limitations and conditions are met.

For all extensions:

Only half the area of land around the "original house"* can be covered by extensions or other buildings.
Extensions cannot be higher than the highest part of the existing roof; or higher at the eaves than the existing eaves.
Where the extension comes within two metres of the boundary* the height at the eaves cannot exceed three metres.
Extension cannot be built forward of the ‘principal elevation’ or, where it fronts a highway, the ‘side elevation’.

The work cannot include:

verandas, balconies or raised platforms.
A microwave antenna (e.g. TV aerial or satellite dish).
A chimney, flue or soil and vent pipe.
Any alteration to the roof of the existing house.
On Article 2(3) designated land* the work cannot include cladding of the exterior.
The materials used in any exterior work must be of a similar appearance to those on the exterior of the existing house.

For single storey extensions:

Single-storey rear extensions cannot extend beyond the rear wall of the original house* by more than four metres if a detached house; or more than three metres for any other house.
Where not on Article 2(3) designated land* or a Site of Special Scientific Interest; and subject to ‘prior approval’, the limit for single-storey rear extensions is increased to eight metres if a detached house; or six metres for any other house.
This requires that the relevant Local Planning Authority is informed of the proposed work via a prior approval application.
Single-storey rear extensions cannot exceed four metres in height.

For Extensions more then one storey:

Extensions of more than one storey must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house* by more than three metres or be within seven metres of any boundary* opposite the rear wall of the house.
Roof pitch must match existing house as far as practicable (note that this also applies to any upper storey built on an existing extension).
Any upper-floor window located in a ‘side elevation’ must be obscure-glazed; and non-opening (unless the openable part is more than 1.7 metres above the floor).
All side extensions of more than one storey will require householder planning permission.
On Article 2(3) designated land* all rear extensions of more than one storey will require householder planning permission.

*Ref: https://www.planningportal.co.uk

What are the benefits of a ground floor extension?

Whether your aim is to increase the overall sqm of the property, enlarge kitchen size, add living space, a utility room the benefits of a ground floor extension are numerous:

Utilise otherwise unused space to increase the size of the home
Improved saturation of natural light in the downstairs areas through addition of skylights/lanterns
Install downstairs/understairs wc.
Added flexibility to the layout of the home
Create space for a large open plan kitchen diner and casual living space where everyone can spend time together
Add space to work from home
A generously sized utility room can be added to free up space in the kitchen and reduce noise from washing machines/dryers
Add a boot room to reduce dirt and clutter coming into the house
Create much needed extra storage space
A new patio at the rear or private courtyard can be created at the side
Extra 16m2 to 60m2 of additional space
Potential for additional space to be added to the first floor too in some circumstances
If the garden space is small this is a good solution
Extra storage and usable space for everyone in the home to enjoy