Single Storey Extension

Extension Planning Expert

A single storey house extension is a straightforward way to add space to your property without the need to build upwards. Whether you’re planning to extend your kitchen, create a larger living area, or simply want an extra room, the addition of a single storey can improve how you use your space. A home with a the right extension often feels more connected and functional. If you’re considering expanding your property, a well-planned single storey extension could also add long-term value to your property.

Why choose a single storey extension?

Adding a single storey extension is one of the most effective ways to create more living space without moving. It can be used to extend your kitchen, add a utility room, or create a new office or dining area. A kitchen extension is one of the most common choices, often forming part of a larger open-plan layout that suits modern family life.

There are several types of extension to consider, depending on your layout and budget. For example, a wraparound single storey extension can offer extra width and depth, especially on corner plots or homes with unused side space. The right extension ideas depend on what you need from your home — more light, better access to the garden, or simply extra room for day-to-day use.

A well-designed extension should feel like a natural part of the property. With the right planning, a single storey extension can add long-term value while improving how you use your space every day. We help you assess your options and develop extension ideas that suit your home and how you live in it.

Planning and design

Designing a single storey extension starts with understanding your needs, the existing layout, and how to make the best use of available space. Whether it’s a rear, side return or wraparound layout, the approach will vary depending on property type, planning rules, and overall goals. Some extensions fall under permitted development, while others may require full planning approval. We provide expert advice early in the process to clarify what’s possible and what an extension cannot include under current regulations.

During a new extension project, we consider how to connect the new area with the rest of your home. This includes planning for structure, drainage, insulation and ventilation. We also look at features like a flat roof, large openings, or options to glaze walls or corners to bring in more natural light.

Building regulations

Every single storey extension must comply with UK Building Regulations. These standards cover insulation, fire safety, structural integrity, and ventilation. To minimise disruption, we provide clear, detailed drawings that both your builder and building control can follow. This helps ensure that the project runs smoothly and remains compliant from start to finish.

Our role

As an experienced architectural designer working on a range of single storey extension projects, we provide support from the initial design phase through to the detailed technical drawings. Our services include:

  • Measured surveys
  • Concept design options
  • Planning applications (if required)
  • Building regulation drawings
  • Liaison with structural engineers and consultants
  • Advice on party wall matters

You can choose a full design package or select specific stages depending on the scope of your project.

What Is a Single Storey Extension?

A single storey extension is a type of house extension that adds new living space at ground floor level by extending the footprint of your home, most commonly to the rear, side, or as aside return. It is one of the most popular ways to increase usable floor area without moving, allowing homeowners to expand the kitchen, create an open plan kitchen and dining space, add a utility room, or improve the overall layout and flow of the ground floor.
A well designed single storey extension can also bring in more natural light and strengthen the connection to the garden, especially when combined with larger glazing and rooflights. Whether it is a rear extension, side extension, or side return extension, a single storey extension can be tailored to suit the property, enhance day to day living, and add long term value.

Our Single Storey Extension Projects

Chiswick, London

Wimbledon, London

Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire

Kensal Rise, London

Why Choose a Single Storey Extension?

A single storey house extension is one of the most effective ways to transform how your home functions day to day. Rather than adding bedrooms above, it focuses on improving the ground floor, The part of the house where families spend most of their time.
For terraced and semi detached homes across London, existing layouts can often feel narrow, segmented, or disconnected from the garden. A well designed rear or side return extension creates open plan living, improves circulation, and brings in significantly more natural light.
Compared to double storey extensions, single storey projects are typically less structurally complex and more straightforward to construct. This can reduce disruption during building works while still delivering meaningful additional floor space.
When professionally designed and built in line with planning policy and building regulations, a single storey extension can:

• Increase usable living space
• Improve layout and functionality
• Enhance natural light and garden access
• Add strong market appeal and resale value

For many homeowners, it represents the ideal balance between investment, practicality, and long term value.

Our Featured Works

Our Approach to Wraparound Single Storey at Salstan Architecture

At Salstan Architecture, our approach to single storey extensions is centred on creating ground floor space that feels seamless, bright, and genuinely practical for everyday living. We begin by understanding how you use the home now and what you want the extension to achieve, whether that is a larger kitchen, an open plan kitchen diner, improved storage, or a better connection to the garden. We then shape the layout around natural movement through the ground floor, ensuring the new space improves flow rather than simply adding square metres.
We design every single storey house extension with natural light and proportion in mind. This includes careful consideration of glazing, roof form, and ceiling height to avoid dark or compressed areas, while ensuring the extension integrates with the existing property through appropriate scale, materials, and detailing. Where structural alterations are required, we plan the design to be technically robust and buildable, supported by our in house team with civil engineering and project management embedded into the process.

From planning and Building Regulations through to site delivery, we keep the project coordinated and controlled, with clear sequencing, quality checks at key stages, and consistent communication throughout. The result is a single storey extension that improves day to day living, performs well long term, and feels like a natural continuation of your home.

Our Process Explained in Six Easy Steps

Step 1 - Your 3D Site Survey​

An appointed surveyor will come around for a full measured survey of your property. They will also note down all your desired requirements for your proposal.​

Step 2 - Drawings Initiated​

The project is allocated to one of our architectural designers who will design your project from the ground up, taking into account all your needs.​

Step 3 - You Review It​

We promise you will have your first draft within 10 working days unless agreed otherwise. You send your designs and get back to us with any changes required. We will then wrap up your drawing to be ready for submission.​

Step 4 - Submission & Decision

Your plans will be submitted strategically for swift approval by the council. Expect a decision in 6-8 weeks. We’ll handle any required changes for free!

Step 5 - Technical Design

Once plans are approved, our engineers manage design and regulatory compliance. Get construction quotes from us & compare with others.

Step 6 - Construction

If you decide to move forward with our services, we will promptly arrange a detailed, comprehensive consultation to discuss and finalize your specific requirements, ensuring everything aligns perfectly with your vision.

What Our Clients Say About Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Possibly not. Many single storey house extension projects fall under permitted development, but this depends on the size, layout, and whether previous works have been carried out. We assess each case at the start of the new extension project to give clear guidance.

Design and planning usually take around 2–3 months. Build times vary depending on the complexity and type of single storey extension, but most projects are completed within a few months once on site.

In some situations, yes. However, there are specific limits around height, distance, and impact on neighbours. These rules help define what an extension can add and what an extension cannot include.

The cost of a single storey extension depends on several factors, including footprint, materials, and internal layout. While typical single storey extension costs vary, we offer early budget guidance based on your site and goals. Every extension cost is unique, so an accurate estimate starts with a clear brief and a site survey.

Yes. The right extension can open up space in your home, improve flow, and provide much-needed living space. Whether you’re adding a kitchen, dining area, or extra room, the goal is to make the most of your layout without needing to move.

Who we are working with

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