Rear Extensions
The most popular way to extend into your garden, open-plan kitchen-diners, family rooms and garden rooms with bi-fold doors, built to the highest standards across Stockport and Cheshire.
At a Glance: Rear Extensions
- Typical cost: £35,000 to £90,000
- Typical timeline: 10 to 16 weeks on site
- Planning permission: Not usually required (often permitted development)
- Areas covered: Stockport, Manchester, Cheshire
- Free site survey: Yes
The Most Popular Way to Extend Your Home
A rear extension is the most popular way to add living space, extending into your garden to create open-plan kitchen-diners, family rooms and light-filled garden rooms with bi-fold or sliding doors. We've built hundreds across Stockport, Cheadle, Wilmslow and Cheshire.
Knock through and extend to create the sociable kitchen-diner families love
Bi-fold and sliding doors open your home straight onto the garden
Many rear extensions fall within permitted development rights
Popular Rear Extension Design Ideas
Every rear extension we build is unique. Here are some of the most popular layout ideas our clients choose to open up the back of their homes.
Open-Plan Kitchen-Diner
Extend into the garden and knock through to your existing kitchen to create a stunning open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space, the heart of the modern family home.
Garden Room & Orangery
A part-glazed rear garden room with sliding doors that blurs the boundary between inside and out. Perfect for entertaining, relaxing, or working from home with a garden view.
Family Living & Snug
Extend the rear to create a dedicated family room or snug for TV, gaming, and relaxing, freeing up your main living room and giving everyone more space to spread out.
Broken-Plan Kitchen & Lounge
A rear extension zoned with a partial wall or island so the kitchen, dining and lounge areas flow together while keeping cooking smells and noise gently separated.
Choosing Your Roof Style
The roof design of your rear extension dramatically affects the look, light levels, and cost. Here are the main options we offer.
Flat Roof
The most cost-effective option for a rear extension. Modern flat roofs use single-ply membrane systems (EPDM or GRP) with a 25-year guarantee. They allow maximum internal ceiling height and are perfect for incorporating large roof lanterns or skylights.
Pitched / Tiled Roof
A pitched roof matches the style of most traditional British homes, creating a rear extension that looks like it's always been there. Tiled to match your existing roof with proper ridge lines and valleys for a truly integrated finish.
Lantern / Glass Roof
A roof lantern or fully glazed roof section floods your rear extension with natural light from above, ideal when the back of the house faces away from the sun. Available in aluminium or timber frames, they create a dramatic focal point and make even modest extensions feel spacious and airy.
Build Without Planning Permission
Many single storey rear extensions can be built under permitted development rights, meaning no planning application is needed, saving you time and money. Here are the key rules your rear extension must meet:
Up to 4 metres from the original rear wall for detached houses, or 3 metres for semi-detached and terraced homes. Under the Larger Home Extension scheme (prior approval), this can extend to 8m / 6m.
Maximum eaves height of 3 metres. Maximum overall height of 4 metres. If within 2 metres of a boundary, the maximum height is limited to 3 metres.
The total area of ground covered by extensions and outbuildings must not exceed 50% of the total land area around the original house (excluding the footprint of the original house).
Materials used in the rear extension must be similar in appearance to the existing dwelling. No verandas, balconies, or raised platforms are permitted under PD rights.
Conservation areas, listed buildings, and some housing estates have restricted PD rights. We check your eligibility as part of our free site survey.
Week-by-Week Build Timeline
Here's a typical timeline for a single storey rear extension, so you know exactly what to expect at each stage of the project.
Groundworks & Foundations
Site set up in the rear garden, excavation, drainage diversions, and reinforced concrete foundations poured to structural engineer specifications.
Brickwork & Walls
Cavity wall construction with DPC, insulation, and steel beams installed. Openings formed for bi-fold doors, sliders and windows.
Roof & Weatherproofing
Roof structure, insulation, roof lantern and covering installed. Bi-fold doors and windows fitted. The extension becomes watertight.
First Fix Services
Electrical wiring, plumbing, heating pipework, and underfloor heating installed before plasterboarding.
Plastering & Second Fix
Internal walls plastered, kitchen fitted, sockets and switches installed, tiling and flooring laid throughout the new open-plan space.
Finishing & Handover
Final decoration, snagging, building control sign-off, and handover. External landscaping, patio and garden works completed.
Rear Extension FAQs
Everything you need to know about rear extensions, answered by our team.
How much does a rear extension cost?
A rear extension in the Stockport/Cheshire area typically costs between 1,800 and 2,800 per square metre, depending on the specification, roof type, and finishing level. A standard 20m· open-plan rear extension might cost 35,000-55,000 all in. We provide a fixed-price quotation after our free site survey.
How far can I extend into my garden without planning permission?
Under standard permitted development rights, you can extend up to 4 metres from the rear wall for a detached house, or 3 metres for semi-detached and terraced properties. Under the Larger Home Extension scheme (requiring prior approval notification), these limits extend to 8m and 6m respectively.
Can I have bi-fold or sliding doors on my rear extension?
Absolutely, and most of our clients do. Bi-fold and sliding doors are the signature feature of a rear extension because they open the room fully onto the garden and flood it with light. We fit thermally efficient aluminium bi-folds, sliders and roof lanterns, and advise on the best configuration for your aspect during the design stage.
Will a rear extension block light to my existing rooms?
Good design prevents this entirely. We use roof lanterns, skylights, and full-width glazed doors to flood both the new extension and the existing rooms behind it with natural light. The depth and layout are carefully planned to maximise daylight, this is a core part of our design process.
Do I need a structural engineer for a rear extension?
Yes. A structural engineer will calculate the foundation depths, steel beam sizes (for opening up the existing rear wall), and lintel specifications. This is a building regulation requirement and is essential for the structural integrity of your extension. We arrange all structural engineering as part of our service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a rear extension cost in Cheadle and Stockport?
Rear extensions in the Cheadle and Stockport area typically range from £35,000 for a modest single-room rear extension up to £90,000 for a large open-plan kitchen-diner with bi-fold doors, a roof lantern and a full kitchen fit-out. We provide a fixed-price quotation after a free site survey.
How long does a rear extension take to build?
Most rear extensions take 10 to 16 weeks on site, depending on the size and specification. Add roughly 6 to 10 weeks before the build for design, planning or prior approval, and building regulations sign-off.
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension?
Many single storey rear extensions fall under permitted development (up to 4m from the original rear wall for detached, 3m for semi or terraced, subject to conditions). Larger rear extensions, conservation areas and listed buildings require full planning or prior approval, which we manage on your behalf.
Can I have bi-fold or sliding doors on my rear extension?
Yes. Bi-fold and sliding doors are the most popular choice for rear extensions because they open the room fully onto the garden. We fit thermally efficient aluminium bi-folds, sliders and roof lanterns to flood the space with light and connect inside to out.
Are you insured and FMB-accredited?
Yes. Cheadle Construction is fully insured, an FMB (Federation of Master Builders) member and TrustMark accredited, with NHBC-backed structural warranties available.