Single-storey rear
The classic open-plan kitchen and family room, often with a roof lantern and bifolds.
Reading house extensions
Will my extension need planning permission?
Drag the extension on the drawing below. The general permitted development limits for England light up as you go, so you know what you are likely asking for before anyone comes round.
Drag the yellow handle
Prior approval
Likely needs prior approval
England only. A general guide to single-storey rear extensions as of Oct 2026, not advice for your property. Flats, listed buildings, conservation areas and houses with removed rights differ. Check the Planning Portal and the government guidance.
CHAS accredited placeholderHealth and safety assessment, renewed yearly
What we build
Extensions, priced in the open
Every band below is a sample for a mid-spec finish in Reading, including VAT. What moves the price: the ground (clay and tree roots mean deeper footings), steel beams, the glazing you choose, and whether a kitchen goes in with it.
Side return (terrace)
Fills the narrow alley beside the back room, so a galley kitchen becomes a proper room.
Wraparound
Side and rear together: the most space from one build, and usually a planning application.
Two-storey rear
A kitchen below and a bedroom with an en suite above. This almost always needs planning.
Garage conversion
A study, playroom or annexe inside walls you already have. Fast, and often permitted.
Garden room
An insulated office or gym at the end of the garden, with power and data run in.
Sample prices for illustration only. Your written quote follows the survey and the drawings. It lists what is included, what is a provisional sum, and what could change it.
Step one
A fixed-fee survey, so you start with facts
£295inc. VAT · sample fee · taken off your build if you go ahead
- A measured survey of the house, the garden and the boundaries
- Our view on permitted development, prior approval or planning for your house
- A realistic budget band and weeks on site, in writing
- Drains, trees and party walls flagged before they surprise anyone
Surveys run Monday to Saturday across Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire.
The three routes
What the colours on the drawing mean
A general guide for houses in England as of Oct 2026. It is not advice for your property. Your council and the Planning Portal have the final word, and we check your house on the survey.
Green
Permitted development
- Single-storey rear, up to 3 m deep (semi or terrace) or 4 m (detached)
- No higher than 4 m
- No application, but a lawful development certificate is worth having
Amber
Prior approval
- The "larger home extension" route: up to 6 m (semi or terrace) or 8 m (detached)
- The council notifies your neighbours, who can comment
- Not available on some protected land
Red
Householder planning
- Deeper or taller than the limits above, or two storeys
- We prepare the drawings and submit the application
- Councils usually aim to decide in about 8 weeks
Building regulations: always
Every route needs building regulations approval for the structure, insulation, drainage and fire safety. We arrange it with building control. How it works
Party wall notice: often
Digging foundations near a shared wall usually means serving notice on the neighbour first. We tell you on the survey. Party wall guidance
Recent work
Extensions around Reading
Sample projects showing the depth, the route and the time on site. Photo slots will hold real finished jobs.
CavershamKitchen extension, 1930s semi
EarleyFamily room, detached house
TilehurstSide return, terrace
WokinghamTwo-storey rear
WoodleyGarage to home office
212extensions finished since 2014 sample
12 wksaverage single-storey build sample
4.9/5from 87 Google reviews sample
10 yrinsurance-backed guarantee sample
Reviews
What clients said afterwards
Sample reviews, shown with the platform and date. A live site would show every review, not a chosen few.
"They told us on the survey that 3 m was the limit for our semi and why. We went with 3 m, no application, and the room still feels huge."
Hannah P., Caversham · Google · Aug 2026 sample
"The prior approval went in, the neighbours were spoken to first, and there were no surprises. Weekly updates every Friday without fail."
Dev and Amira S., Earley · Trustpilot · Jun 2026 sample
"Two weeks over because of a steel delay, but they rang the day they knew and didn't charge for it. Finish is excellent."
Graham T., Tilehurst · Google · Mar 2026 sample
In writing
What you get before we lift a spade
The things a good builder should put on paper. If any of these are missing from a quote, ask why.
1
A quote with VAT in, and what could change it
Provisional sums for things nobody can see yet, like the ground under the patio, are listed separately.
2
Your 14-day right to cancel
For contracts signed at your home you get the cancellation notice, as the 2013 regulations set out.
3
Insurance and a guarantee
£5m public liability and an insurance-backed guarantee through TrustMark sample. We send the certificates with the quote.
4
Who handles site safety
On domestic jobs the builder normally takes on the client's CDM duties, so you do not have to. We write down who does what.
Book a survey
Tell us about the house
We reply within one working day with survey slots. No sales visit, no pressure.
- 0118 496 0732 sample
Monday to Friday 8am–6pm, Saturday 9am–1pm - Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell and West Berkshire
- [email protected] sample