Home Extensions in Brighton & Hove

Single-storey, two-storey, side return, and kitchen extensions — designed around your property and built to a high standard across Brighton, Hove, and the wider Sussex area.

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Brighton and Hove’s housing stock presents a rich variety of extension opportunities. Victorian and Edwardian terraces — common across Hove, Preston Park, and Kemp Town — often have long rear gardens and narrow side returns that can be transformed into generous living spaces. Many period homes in the city benefit enormously from a well-designed extension that opens up the ground floor, creates an open-plan kitchen and dining area, or adds a home office. At Kirby’s Building & Property Maintenance Ltd, we work with homeowners across Brighton and Hove to plan and build extensions that suit both the property and the neighbourhood, including properties within conservation areas where design considerations are particularly important.

Types of Extension We Build

Single-Storey Rear Extensions

A single-storey rear extension is typically the most straightforward way to add space to a house. Depending on the property and the scale of the works, it may fall within Permitted Development rights, avoiding the need for a full planning application. These extensions are commonly used to enlarge a kitchen, create an open-plan kitchen-diner, or add a utility room or ground-floor WC. We handle everything from foundations and structural steelwork through to plastering, floor finishes, and roofing.

Side Return Extensions

Many Victorian terraces in Brighton and Hove have a narrow alley running alongside the rear of the house — the side return. Infilling this space with a single-storey extension can significantly widen the kitchen or rear reception room without eating into garden space. Side return extensions often include a glazed roof or roof lantern to maintain natural light through the new structure. They require careful attention to party wall matters where the work is adjacent to a neighbour’s property.

Two-Storey Extensions

Where a single storey is not enough, a two-storey rear or side extension can add significant floor area across both ground and first floors. Two-storey extensions generally require full planning permission and involve more complex structural and Building Regulations considerations, including fire safety, staircase design, and thermal performance. They typically offer strong value relative to cost when compared with moving to a larger property.

Kitchen Extensions

The kitchen extension is one of the most popular home improvement projects in the city. Extending the rear of the house to create a large open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area is a well-established way to improve both the day-to-day livability of a home and its market value. We manage the full build process, working alongside your chosen kitchen designer or architect, and co-ordinating trades to ensure the project runs smoothly from groundworks through to final fit-out.

Our Extension Process

Planning Permission

We help you understand whether your project requires a planning application or falls within Permitted Development. Where a planning application is needed, we can work alongside your architect or planning consultant throughout the process.

Building Regulations

All extension work must comply with Building Regulations. We manage the submission and ensure all structural, thermal, drainage, and fire safety requirements are met and signed off by Building Control.

Project Management

We co-ordinate all trades and materials throughout the build, keeping the project on programme and communicating clearly with you at every stage. You have a single point of contact from start to finish.

Handover

On completion, we carry out a thorough snagging process before handover. We provide all relevant Building Regulations completion certificates and documentation for your records.

Brighton & Hove Extension Considerations

Building an extension in Brighton and Hove involves a number of local considerations that do not apply in all areas.

Conservation areas: Brighton and Hove has a large number of designated conservation areas covering many of the city’s most desirable residential streets. Properties within conservation areas are often subject to Article 4 Directions that remove standard Permitted Development rights, meaning planning permission is required for work that would otherwise be exempt. Design quality and the use of appropriate materials are scrutinised more carefully in these areas.

Period properties: Victorian and Edwardian properties are common throughout the city. Extensions to period properties require particular care to ensure the new structure relates sympathetically to the original building in terms of scale, materials, and detailing. We have experience working with period homes and understand the importance of maintaining the character of the original property.

Party Wall Act: Where an extension involves work to a shared boundary wall, or where excavations are close to a neighbouring property, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 will typically apply. This requires formal notice to be served on affected neighbours before work begins. We can advise on your obligations, though you may also wish to consult a Party Wall Surveyor.

Planning constraints: Some properties in Brighton and Hove are subject to additional planning constraints beyond conservation area designations, including Article 4 Directions in specific streets and controls relating to the South Downs National Park boundary. We recommend checking your property’s planning history and constraints at the outset of any project.

Areas We Cover

We carry out home extension work across Brighton and Hove and the surrounding area, including:

Thinking about an extension?

We offer free initial consultations and written quotations with no obligation. Available across Brighton, Hove & Sussex.

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✓Free site consultation
✓Written quotations
✓Building Regulations managed
✓Fully insured operatives
✓Brighton & Hove based

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need planning permission for a home extension in Brighton & Hove?

Many single-storey rear extensions fall within Permitted Development rights, meaning full planning permission may not be required. However, properties in conservation areas, Article 4 Direction zones, or those that are listed will typically require a planning application. We recommend checking with the local planning authority before any work begins, and we can help you understand what is likely to apply to your property.

How long does a home extension typically take to build?

Project duration depends on the size and complexity of the extension. A straightforward single-storey rear extension typically takes several weeks to complete once on site, while a two-storey extension or a project involving significant structural work will generally take longer. We provide a realistic programme at the quotation stage so you know what to expect before work starts.

How do I get a quote for my extension?

Contact us to arrange a free initial site visit. We'll discuss your requirements, take measurements, and assess any site-specific constraints. We then prepare a written quotation covering the scope of work, materials, and programme. There is no obligation to proceed.

Do extensions need to comply with Building Regulations?

Yes — virtually all home extensions require Building Regulations approval, regardless of whether planning permission is needed. Building Regulations cover structural integrity, fire safety, thermal performance, drainage, and other technical standards. We manage the Building Regulations submission process and ensure all work is inspected and signed off by the Building Control body.

Related Services

Many extension projects include renovation or fit-out works once the structure is complete. We also offer full property renovations for clients refurbishing the wider home alongside their extension, and ongoing property maintenance to keep the completed project in good condition over the long term.

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Serving Brighton, Hove, Portslade, Shoreham-by-Sea & across East and West Sussex.