Rear Extension vs Side Return Extension: Short on Space?
If you’re short on space and thinking about extending rather than moving, two of the most popular options in South London are the rear extension and the side return extension. Both types of extensions can transform how you use your ground floor, but they suit different types of property and budgets. Let’s have a look at everything related to a rear extension vs side return extension and how to work out which one is right for your home.
What is a Rear Extension?
A rear extension extends your home out into the garden, most commonly at the back of the kitchen or dining area. It’s one of the most popular ways to create a larger, open-plan kitchen-diner. It works well on most property types, from Victorian terraces to 1930s semi-detached properties. We find rear extensions are best suited to homes with a reasonably sized garden and a straightforward rear elevation. The typical uses are mainly for open-plan kitchen diners, family living spaces, and adding bi-fold or French doors out to the Garden.
What Is a Side Return Extension?
Side return extensions fill in the narrow alley of unused space that runs down the side of many Victorian and Edwardian terraces, between the kitchen and the boundary wall. Rather than pushing further into the garden, it widens the existing footprint, so it’s a good option when garden space is limited. Often best suited to Victorian and Edwardian terraces with a side return alleyway. Most commonly these are found in areas like Lambeth, Wandsworth and more. Side-return extensions are also typically used for widening a galley kitchen, adding a utility area, or creating a broader kitchen-diner without compromising garden space.
Comparing the Two: Space, Cost and Planning
Space Gained
When it comes to space, a rear extension generally adds more overall floor area, since you’re building outward into the garden. A side return typically adds a narrower strip of space, but it can dramatically improve the flow and light of an existing room without eating into the garden at all.
Garden Impact
Side returns are known for preserving outdoor space, whereas a rear extension will reduce the space in your garden, often a deciding factor.
Planning Permission
Many rear and side return extensions can be built under Permitted Development, provided they meet size and boundary rules, though this varies by council and property type. Larger rear extensions, or homes in a conservation area, are more likely to need full planning permission. At South London Lofts, our team handles this as part of the architects, drawings and planning service, so we can advise on your specific case from the outset.
Party Wall Considerations
Party wall agreements are almost always required for side return extensions as they sit close to a boundary; rear extensions don’t escape this, also depending on the proximity to the boundary.
Cost
Side return extensions tend to cost less than rear extensions of a similar quality finish, because the footprint is usually smaller. However, the final cost always depends on factors such as scoping, glazing, and the finish you choose.
Can You Combine the Two?
Yes, it has become an increasingly popular choice for Victorian terraces in South London. A wrap-around extension combines a rear and side return extension into a single L-shaped space, maximising the kitchen-diner while making the most of what would otherwise be wasted side-return space. If this sounds like it might suit your home, it’s worth exploring as a third option alongside these two.
Which Should You Choose?
This depends on your priority. If your priority is a bigger, brighter open-plan kitchen and you’re happy to give up some garden space, a rear extension is usually the better fit. However, if you want to keep your garden intact and simply need to open up a cramped, narrow kitchen, a side return is often the smarter choice.
The right answer really depends on your property, the space available in your garden, and how you want to use the space day to day. With 25 years of experience extending homes across South London, we can talk you through the options for your specific house and give you a clear, no-obligation quote.
Get a free quote today and let’s talk through what will work best for your home.
