Extensions

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About our extension projects

Extensions allow our clients to achieve a personalised home by adding more space wherever they need it. Adding impressive social spaces, primary bedrooms, bathrooms and even garages are some of the extensions that we have worked on in the past. Each house has its own individual character and extensions are the perfect project to play with styles that blend or contrast.

Our process for extension projects

concept

Concept

To us, architecture is all about people which is why we take the time to get to know our clients during a briefing meeting. Here you’ll be met by your Design Manager who will guide you through every stage of the project. This is the session where we will discuss budgets, timescales, wants and needs.

design

Design

We will create a one-of-a kind digital 3D model of your proposed design. This interactive experience will allow you to walk through your spaces, making informed decisions on design, layout and finishes. We encourage our clients to take this interactive walkthrough home to discuss with their friends and family.

materials

Interiors

We believe that it’s what goes inside a house that makes it a home. This stage of the process is where we introduce our interiors team who will help you design the final touches of your dream home.

build

Build

Our construction team will be responsible for the day-to-day aspects of your build. Finalised building estimates, construction contracts and a date to start your project will all be agreed. During the building stage you will receive updates from your Construction Project Manager, and we pride ourselves on being completely transparent about all aspects of our work.

delivery

Delivery

We don’t believe in goodbyes! Once your project is completed we will keep in contact and make visits to your property to check for any additional work that may be required. We will make sure you are completely satisfied with your project before ensuring all requirements for Building Control have been met and signed off.

Different types of extensions

Rear extensions

Adding an extension to the rear of a property can be a popular way to provide contemporary living and entertaining space, especially with new combined kitchen/ living/ dining areas

Side Extensions

A side extension can be added to the side of a property and can be a practical way to add an additional reception room or ground floor master suite for accessible living

Wraparound Extensions

Wraparound extensions involve extending the property on multiple sides that might be suitable for corner plots or tying into the back of an attached garage to create a fabulous interior 

Conservatories

A more circumstantial extension option, a conservatory is a glazed extension that can be used as a sunroom or additional living space which has to take into account the amount of sun it will receive and the type of glazing material

Two-Storey Extensions

A two-story extension is most frequently opted for to add bedrooms and bathrooms but can also be important for adding home office space, individual annexes and working with ground floor entertaining and living rooms

Loft Conversions

A loft conversion can be a cost-effective way to create additional living space in the attic and will usually require compromising on a first floor bedroom to gain access

Get in touch

Hear about our client’s experience with us

Our client wanted to improve their home that they already loved, enhancing its features and giving them more living space, hear about Chris’ experience and process with working with us on his extension.

If you would prefer to book in a free consultation, please book in below

Planning your Extension

At Spatial Future, we prioritise clear communication with our clients, so one of our experienced team members will personally visit your property to discuss the project scope and understand your vision for the new extension. Our team will provide honest and realistic feedback, and make suggestions to modify the proposed ideas if necessary. We’re always available to provide advice on the best options available and guide you through the decision-making process.

We specialise in creating extensions that maximize the benefits of your home, no matter its style or age, and can provide information on timescales, budgeting, gaining planning approval and the construction process to help achieve your ambition. We also offer project management services to ensure the construction phase runs smoothly and with minimal disruption to your daily routine. Our team will take care of planning and coordinating all aspects of the project to ensure the best chance of a successful outcome.

extensions

Planning Permission and Building Control

We understand that navigating the planning permission process can be overwhelming. At Spatial Future, we work closely with our clients to determine whether obtaining planning permission is necessary for their projects. If it is required, we’re here to assist our clients every step of the way.

Our team has extensive knowledge of local planning regulations and can advise on the best approach to submitting plans to the council. We take pride in ensuring that all our client’s projects are compliant with the latest building regulations, regardless of the complexity of the project.

We’re committed to creating exceptional designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also meet all necessary legal requirements. Our experienced professionals will guide you through every aspect of the design and build process to ensure a final extension that you can be proud of!

Frequently asked questions

What size extension can I build without planning permission?
The size of an extension that can be built without planning permission varies depending on the location of the property and the type of extension being built. However, in most circumstances, you can build a single-story rear extension that does not exceed 50% of the total area of land around the "original house". There are also dimension and material restrictions to consider.

For example, single-story rear extensions cannot exceed 4 metres in height and must not extend beyond 3 metres from the original house for terraced or semi-detached houses, and 4 metres for detached houses. A different route that might be considered is going through a ‘prior approval’ application for a larger home extension. This works slightly differently but is generally less risky than a full planning application if the proposals have limited impact on your neighbours. The maximum depth for a single-story rear extension is 6 metres for terraced or semi-detached houses, and 8 metres for detached houses, unless your property has had its permitted development rights removed. In all cases, the exterior materials you use must match the look of the rest of the house. There may be some flexibility as most local authorities understand that exact products (roof tiles, bricks etc) are sometimes discontinued but you will be required to match materials as best as you possibly can.

We always advise our clients to seek a Certificate of Lawful Development which affirms that your proposals qualify as permitted development. This is a simple and cheap application that shouldn’t be refused (so long as it meets all conditions) and ensures peace of mind for you and any potential mortgage lenders, solicitors or buyers when needing to prove the extension is legitimate. It's important to note that the regulations can vary depending on the local authority’s area designations or where there are previous planning conditions on the property that might restrict or remove your permitted development rights. The most frequent reasons we see for permitted development rights being removed is if your property is in a conservation area, if it’s a part of a particularly new-build estate or if it’s already been substantially added to already. Always get in touch with us or seek alternative professional advice before paying for design work or applications to understand your circumstances fully.
Can I extend the front of my house?
If the front faces a road, then no, you cannot carry out a meaningful front extension under permitted development rules. In cases where your house sits on a corner plot where the side wall faces the road, this cannot be extended under permitted development either. You’d instead have to apply for full planning permission which may not necessarily be a bad thing. Because of the fairly restrictive rules around permitted development, creativity and sometimes functionality of your spaces can become stifled. Even if you can get something built using permitted development, it’s always worth inquiring about the pros and cons of instead submitting a full application which may be able to get you a much better extension.

However, you are typically able to construct a front porch on your home under permitted development. This can face a road, so long as the external ground floor footprint is no larger than three square metres, no part of the porch would be taller than three metres above ground level, and no part would be within two metres of any boundary or the highway. This enables the construction of small internal porches, open canopies and the extension or alteration of existing porches.
Do I need my neighbours' permission for an extension?
Not exactly. If you require planning permission, the local authority will normally consult your neighbours as part of the process which can become important if you submit a larger home extension as mentioned above. If your neighbours object, the authority will determine the impact of your proposals within planning policy terms and decide if it is acceptable or not. This does not remove the need for other duties which involve letting your neighbours know about the proposals (such as signing Party Wall Agreements). We always recommend being completely transparent and upfront with your neighbours at the earliest stage possible. We can help a lot with this, visiting and talking through the proposals with them alongside any drawings or visualisations that might help them understand your intentions.
Can I reduce your energy bills with a house extension?
In addition to providing more living space, a modern house extension can offer several other benefits to homeowners. By bettering your thermal envelope with fully-insulated walls and improving air tightness, our extension builds can help reduce energy bills. During cooler months, the thermal capabilities of our extensions allow them to absorb sunlight while keeping the draughts out, which results in a more comfortable living space.

We also ensure high-quality windows and doors are included in our extension designs which provide additional energy efficiency benefits due to their advanced manufacturing. By reducing your carbon footprint and enhancing the appearance of your home, our modern house extensions are an excellent investment for any homeowner.