House Extensions
House Extensions in Newcastle upon Tyne
Two houses a mile apart in Newcastle upon Tyne can need completely different answers on house extensions, because the town covers Tyneside flats and Victorian terraces through Heaton, Byker, Fenham and Jesmond as well as later suburban housing out toward Gosforth, Kenton and the Great Park. Newcastle upon Tyne is a city where the Tyneside flat is still the defining piece of housing stock, an upper and a lower home in a single terraced building with two separate front doors.
Call 07854 366464Get a Free QuoteHouse Extensions done properly in Newcastle upon Tyne
Andy is a time served general builder with more than 25 years behind him, and no Newcastle upon Tyne job is priced from a phone call alone. We look at the property first, then put the figure in writing.
House Extensions
Our house extensions in Newcastle upon Tyne cover
- Single storey rear and side extensions: foundations, brickwork, roof structure and a weathertight shell ready for first fix
- Wrap around extensions: combining a side return and a rear extension into one usable space
- Steel and structural openings: RSJ installation where the extension opens into the existing rooms
- Foundations and groundworks: trench fill or strip foundations sized for the ground actually found on site
- Roofing and rainwater: flat or pitched roof structure, coverings, fascias and drainage
- Two storey extensions: structural design coordinated with your engineer, then built and tied into the existing house
Local Knowledge
Local considerations for house extensions in Newcastle upon Tyne
Every house extensions project in Newcastle upon Tyne answers to Newcastle City Council, so that is where the application and the inspections go. Alongside that, Newcastle has a long list of conservation areas, Jesmond and Grainger Town among the best known, and in a Tyneside flat the split ownership above and below means the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is almost always in play before a single wall is opened up. Knowing this at the outset is what keeps a project moving, because a design produced in ignorance of a constraint usually has to be produced again.
The ground itself is the other half of the picture, because Newcastle sits over worked coal measures and the city council expects mining risk to be addressed where new foundations are being formed in the higher risk parts of the city. For an extension that matters directly, because the foundation design has to answer the ground before the building above it is worth drawing.
Newcastle upon Tyne covers a real mix of building stock. Near Heaton, Jesmond, Fenham expect Tyneside flats and Victorian terraces through Heaton, Byker, Fenham and Jesmond, and beyond that later suburban housing out toward Gosforth, Kenton and the Great Park. For house extensions, the older stock usually needs closer attention to brick matching and to how the new roof meets the old, while the newer housing tends to be a more predictable build. Back lanes behind the flats are useful for muck away and materials, but many are gated or blocked, so we check the lane before we quote rather than after the skip arrives. It does not move the price, which is set after we have seen the property, but it does shape the programme.
Recent work
Our Approach
How we work in Newcastle upon Tyne
Site visit first
Every job starts with a proper look at the property. Quoting from a description alone is how a figure ends up changing halfway through.
A written quote
You get a written, no obligation quote that states the scope. If something is excluded, it says so rather than leaving it to be argued about later.
Regulations handled
An extension is the one job where planning and building control both come into play. Many single storey rear extensions still fall inside permitted development, but the limits on depth, height and eaves are specific and they tighten on a semi detached or terraced property. Building regulations approval is needed either way.
Kept informed
We keep you updated as the work goes on rather than disappearing for a week. It is the least complicated part of building work and the part most often done badly.
Frequently Asked Questions
House Extensions in Newcastle upon Tyne: your questions
Do you handle the building control inspections?
Yes. We work to the approved plans, book the stage inspections and meet the inspector on site at foundations, damp proof course, drainage and completion.
What happens if the ground is worse than expected?
Foundations are dug and inspected before anything is poured. If the inspector requires a deeper or wider foundation than allowed for, we price the extra work openly and show you the reason rather than absorbing it quietly into the final bill.
Which council handles house extensions applications in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Newcastle City Council covers Newcastle upon Tyne for planning and for building control, so both sides of the approval sit with one authority. On house extensions the requirement to satisfy is permitted development limits and a full building regulations approval.
Do I need planning permission for a house extension?
Not always. A large number of single storey rear extensions fall within permitted development, but the allowances depend on whether the house is detached, semi detached or terraced, how far it projects, the eaves and ridge heights and whether anything has already been added. Building regulations approval is a separate requirement and applies either way.
Are there any planning restrictions I should know about in Newcastle upon Tyne?
There can be. Newcastle has a long list of conservation areas, Jesmond and Grainger Town among the best known, and in a Tyneside flat the split ownership above and below means the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is almost always in play before a single wall is opened up. Where that is the case, expect Newcastle City Council to take a closer interest in materials and detailing than it would elsewhere in the city.
Can you work from my architect or designer drawings?
Yes. We build to approved drawings routinely and will raise anything that looks impractical to build before work starts rather than halfway through, which is usually cheaper for everyone.
What sort of properties do you carry out house extensions on in Newcastle upon Tyne?
The full range. Newcastle upon Tyne runs from Tyneside flats and Victorian terraces through Heaton, Byker, Fenham and Jesmond to later suburban housing out toward Gosforth, Kenton and the Great Park, and the construction type is what actually drives the approach on house extensions.
Do ground conditions in Newcastle upon Tyne affect house extensions?
Often, yes. Newcastle sits over worked coal measures and the city council expects mining risk to be addressed where new foundations are being formed in the higher risk parts of the city. That is why we look at the plot before pricing rather than quoting from a description over the phone.
Can we stay in the house while the extension is built?
In most cases yes. There is normally a short disruptive period when the opening between old and new is formed, and we agree that week with you in advance so you can plan around it.
Do you cover the areas around Newcastle upon Tyne as well, such as Gateshead and Longbenton and Killingworth?
Yes, Gateshead, Longbenton, Killingworth and the surrounding area are all covered for house extensions. Being based in Blaydon-on-Tyne keeps most of the region within a reasonable drive.
Also covering near Newcastle upon Tyne
We carry out house extensions across the surrounding area as well as in Newcastle upon Tyne itself.
Other building services in Newcastle upon Tyne
Whatever else the project needs, it is the same team and the same standard.
Planning house extensions in Newcastle upon Tyne?
Tell us what you are planning and we will arrange a look at the property. You get a written, no obligation quote for house extensions in Newcastle upon Tyne, and an honest answer about what the regulations will actually require.
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