Single-storey rear extension in Richmond upon Thames
Do you need planning permission for a single-storey rear extension in Richmond upon Thames? Not always. The permitted development limit for a rear extension is 3 metres for most houses and 4 metres for a detached one, subject to the other Class A conditions, and larger extensions of up to 6 or 8 metres are handled through the neighbour consultation scheme.[1] Richmond's SPD treats a rear projection of up to 3m (terraced), 3.5m (semi-detached) or 4m (detached) as usually acceptable.[2]
Local rules for a single-storey rear extension in Richmond upon Thames
- Richmond's guidance (the House Extensions and External Alterations SPD, May 2015) treats a single-storey rear projection as usually acceptable if it goes no further than 3m on a terraced house, 3.5m on a semi-detached house or 4m on a detached house.[2]
- Richmond's local validation checklist adds items when they are triggered, such as CIL Form 1, a heritage statement, an arboricultural impact assessment, a fire safety strategy or exception statement, and a structural impact assessment.[3]
How Richmond upon Thames handles these applications
In the 12 months to 30 June 2026, Richmond upon Thames decided 1,302 householder applications and granted 1,085 of them, a grant rate of 83.3%.[4] These figures cover householder applications of every kind, not just this type of work. Using the same table, we calculate that 98.7% were decided within 8 weeks, excluding those on an agreed timescale; this is our calculation, not a published figure.[4]
On our calculation from the Planning Data green-belt dataset, 2.3% of the borough is Green Belt.[5] Check whether your address is inside it.
Average prices in August 2026 were £931,524 for a terraced home, £1,208,719 for a semi-detached one and £1,823,726 for a detached one.[6] Some owners weigh an extension against the cost of moving.
What it costs
Plandome's fixed fee for a single-storey rear extension is £1,500 (VAT_WORDING_TBC). The council's own application fee is separate.
You see a free proposal first and pay nothing until you choose to order.
Charges and fees that come from the council or from national rules:
- Pre-application advice from Richmond on extensions or alterations to a non-listed dwelling costs £190, without a meeting with a planning officer.[7] The page does not state the VAT treatment, so check with the council.[7]
- The national planning application fee for enlarging, improving or altering an existing single dwelling is £548 (from 1 April 2026).[8]
What the work looks like
Questions people ask
How often does Richmond upon Thames grant householder applications?
The government's PS2 table shows 1,085 grants from 1,302 householder decisions in the year to 30 June 2026.[4] That is a figure for householder work in general, not a forecast for yours.
What counts as a normal rear projection in Richmond?
Up to 3m on a terraced house, 3.5m on a semi-detached house or 4m on a detached house, according to the 2015 SPD.[2]
Can Plandome guarantee that a single-storey rear extension will be approved?
No. Plandome prepares the application, but Richmond upon Thames decides it, and no consultant can promise the outcome.
Can I rely on this page for my own address?
No. It summarises published sources as they stood on 14 November 2026. Your property may be subject to conditions or designations that a general page cannot cover.