Do you have vacant side space in your home and want to utilise it well? Adding a single storey side extension could be a good idea to utilise your once non functional space in a better way. Here, we will explore how you can turn your home side space into a bespoke kitchen, home office, or just more open-plan living space with the stunning single storey side extension ideas. It could be a good practice and valuable investment for your future.
Get to know everything about single-storey side extension, from planning rules to design inspiration, cost and other potential challenges. Plansing has helped countless homeowners in enhancing their properties with high-quality extensions. Let’s discuss in detail what you must know about the side extension.
What is a Single-Storey Side Extension?
To increase the space in your existing homes with your growing members, a single-storey side extension can be the best decision. You can add an additional room or structure to your home’s side at the ground floor level. A side extension is usually built to fill the unutilised space between your property and its boundary. This can be a good option for semi-detached, detached, and end-terraced home types. It not only enhances your home’s flow and functionality but also adds value without affecting your upper-floor layout.
Advantages of Single Storey Side Extension
When digging a little deeper, you will find plenty of benefits to choosing a side extension. Some of them are listed below:
- It can efficiently maximise your existing space and can convert your awkward side alleys or narrow driveways into a useful room.
- With innovative architectural designs, it helps you improve your home layout by connecting kitchen, dining, and living spaces seamlessly.
- It adds the square footage that boosts the market value of your property, which will make it a good future investment.
- A premium choice to bring in daylight to your homes with the skylights and glazed roofs, windows and doors.
- The single-storey side extension is more economical compared to multi-storey extensions because of the simplified construction and lower structural costs.
- It requires less build time rather than complex extensions, which makes it your go-to choice.
Popular Ways to Use a Single-Storey Side Extension
Here, we will discuss some of the most popular ways in which the homeowners can utilise their side extension.
The possibilities are endless, but here are a few popular ways homeowners use their side extensions:
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Bathroom Extension on the Side of the House:
Most people will agree that a bathroom on the ground floor adds convenience. From guests to large families, sometimes bathrooms need to be more accessible. A bathroom side extension, if well executed, can maximise your property’s appeal and comfort.
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Kitchen Diner Expansion:
A side extension for your kitchen diner can completely change the heart of your home. It creates more amicable dining areas, and cooking, and light filled zones. These additions are perfect for entertaining family meals specially with modern open plan designs that most of the buyers love.
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Home Office:
With the increase of remote and hybrid jobs, adding a home office in a side extension changes the game. The side extension allows a peaceful and quiet working atmosphere without worrying about compromising living areas or bedroom space.
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Utility Room:
Side extensions can help organise the main kitchen and living parts of the home with the added Utility room extension. Perfect for housing appliances, drying laundry, or storing bulky cleaning equipment in a single organised space.
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Playroom or Studio:
You can take advantage of your side extension and turn it into a children’s entertainment area or personal hobby zone. This can be a quiet art studio, a music space, a love for games, or almost anything else imaginable.
Fresh & Functional Single-Storey Side Extension Ideas
Here are some stylish and functional single-storey side extension ideas to spark inspiration:
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Lean to Side Extension:
A lean-to side extension focuses on the sides of the buildings i.e. side plots and their extensions like passageways. It makes the construction simpler and more handsome as it saves space whilst simply adjusting certain elements. The design is more cost effective as it enables rooms to be added with a fitting external slope roof.
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Glazed Roof or Skylights:
Adding roof lanterns or skylights within the new space works wonders in not just elevating the space aesthetically but also serves the functionality of plentiful sunlight illuminating the interior, which reduces electric light dependency to a bare minimum. It’s ideal for enclosed or darker areas that need additional lighting.
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Sliding or Bi-Fold Doors:
Transform the appearance of your home with bi-fold or sliding doors, which increase the light coming into your home, improves the view of the garden and creates a feeling of more space inside your home. It also makes your garden more attractive, while increasing the modern feel to your home.
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Minimalist Interiors:
A minimalist design enhances the property’s beauty by removing any unnecessary features, and adding open room layouts and cabinets with no handles to peaceful neutral colors. With these features a side extension will surely bring the modern touch to the airy living space and kitchens.
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Green Roofs:
For eco-friendly houses, a green roof offers insulation, increases biodiversity, helps absorb rain water and improves the visual appeal of the building when being viewed from floors above or neighboring buildings making it less harsh visually.
Every design should complement your lifestyle and enhance your home’s existing character.
Single storey Side Extension Rules You Must Know (UK Regulations)
- The majority of single-storey side extensions are considered permitted development and may not require planning permission.
- Single-storey extensions are limited in height to 4 metres.
- Extensions cannot exceed half the width of the original house.
- The extension must not project beyond the front side of the house or the boundary that faces a highway.
- Similar materials should be used as those already present on the property.
- No balconies, verandas, or raised platforms are allowed under these rights.
- Planning permission is required for homes within listed buildings or conservation areas.
- Specific local requirements must be verified with local authorities.
Common Challenges to watch out for Single-Storey side extension
Every extension includes potential challenges. Below are some of these major ones.
- Issues with Drainage and Pipework
- Dispute settlement agreement with neighbours
- Alignment of Roof Lines and Materials
- Reduction in the amount of Garden or Green Space
- Inadequately Managed Budgets
- Limited Access to Side Passage
These challenges can be avoided with early planning and by working with qualified professionals.
How Does a Side Extension Compare to Other Home Extensions?
| Extension type | Average cost | Planning needed |
| Lean to extension | £25,000 – £40,000 | Usually not |
| Single storey extension | £25,000 – £100,000 | Usually not |
| Rear extension | £80,000-£135,000 | Sometimes |
| Loft conversion | £45,000-£90,000 | Often |
| Double storey | £60,000-£1,20,000 | Always |
| Conservatory | £15,000-£25,000 | Rarely |
How Much Does a Single-Storey Side Extension Cost in the UK?
The cost of a single-storey side extension in the UK is between £50,000 to £120,000 depending on:
- Size and layout
- Site conditions
- Type of materials used
- Complexity of design
- Interior finishes (kitchen, bathroom, etc.)
At Plansing, we help you stay on budget while achieving your goals through realistic timelines, transparent quotes, and value-driven designs.
Should you build a side extension?
Single Storey Side Extensions are perfect for those looking to maximise space in their homes. This type of extension is ideal if you want a modern kitchen, a quiet reading nook, or even a new utility area. These extensions stand out because of their flexibility, affordability, and overall value.
Plansing is always available to you if you’re looking to explore your side extension options. We guide you through every single process, from design, planning permissions, construction, and beyond.
FAQ’S
A side extension can be built up to half the width of the original house with a maximum height of 4 metres without the need for planning permission.
The average duration is from 3 to 6 months, but is subject to design complexity, planning requirements, and weather conditions.
Yes. This is especially easier if you reside in an end-of-terrace house. Most likely, you will need some planning permission and a party wall agreement.
