Bring Your Side
Alley into Your Home
Maximise your home’s footprint while improving its flow and relationship with your rear garden
Why a GROUND FLOOR EXTENSION?
Explore the overlooked opportunity sitting right outside your back door
A rear or side extension is the most direct solution when your house simply doesn’t fit the way you live anymore. For most homeowners, it is significantly cheaper and less disruptive than moving. You keep your garden, your school, your neighbours and your street while gaining the room that changes how your whole home feels.
We design extensions that are a natural continuation of the existing house, not an afterthought bolted to the back. The relationship between inside and outside, the quality of light, the connection to the garden: these are the details that make the difference between an extension you tolerate and one you love.
Before & After | See recent transformations: Notting Hill, Cherry Garden Street, 15 Alma Grove, 41 Reverdy Road.
Recent projects
What we have built
How we work
From initial inquiry to finished extension - Six clear stages
For all new business enquiries, we begin with a free one hour consultation. If possible, before you contact us please draw up a brief (a wish-list for the project). We can see your project through the whole process from planning to construction completion or limit services to the initial stages. How much or little you commission is up to you.
01
Consultation [FREE]
We visit your home or have a virtual meeting to assess feasibility, discuss your ideas and give you an honest picture of what is achievable and at what potential cost.
02
Measured Survey & Concept Feasibility
We carry out a detailed measured survey of your property. This is the foundation for all design and planning work. We produce architectural drawings, design options (based on your design ideas) and highlight problems that need solving. We can also provide an approximate project cost estimate based on previous completed projects.
03
Planning Submission
We revise the architectural drawings and submit your Planning Application or Permitted Development Notification. We prepare all supporting information and advise if specialist consultant reports are required.
04
Final Design & Detailed Design
We finalise the design materials, finishes, appliances and fittings, along with electrical layouts. We help you to appoint a structural engineer, along with any other specialist consultants, such as Party Wall surveyors etc. We prepare detail design drawings and co-ordinate with the structural design and any other consultants appointed. We check the detailed design for compliance with building regulations.
05
Tender & Construction
We help you select a contractor, review quotes and set up a fair, transparent building contract. We administer the contact, inspect the works on site, and are available throughout the build. We keep a track of cost and can check payments due to the builder.
06
Handover & Close Out
We inspect and value the works to certify Practical Completion at handover. We then stay in touch through 6 month defects period and carry out a final inspection to certify the last payment, protecting your interests to the very end.
Client Testimonials
What our clients say
★★★★★
“Having seen the work they had done on another house on our road we were very keen to have MTA work on our extension. They were excellent in turning our ideas into a workable plan which has given us a fabulous new living space. We would happily use these architects again for future projects.”
Alyson Whalley
★★★★★
“I chose MTA Architecture & Design after meeting Michael during his introductory visit to our home. He took detailed notes of everything on my “wish” list. I wanted an architect who was local, approachable, professional, and who could provide excellent architectural insight and instruction within our budget and on time. A tall ask, but Michael and his small team fulfilled the brief soundly. Michael also project managed our renovation. At each stage of the project, his communication was timely, transparent and clear. Weekly meetings on site facilitated open communication between him, myself and our contractor, ensuring that our project was completed on time, to the contracted day, and within our budget. We love our “new home”. I have already recommended MTA to our friends, who were impressed with the stylish, yet practical transformation of our home.”
Nyame Roose-Farooq
★★★★★
“MTA were exceptional to work with. Incredibly knowledgeable, experienced and professional. Their fees were transparent and really helped moved the project along to bring it both in line with our timeframe and budget. We would highly recommend working with them and would definitely work with them again on another project.”
Rachel Marshall
Common questions
What people ask us most
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Many single-storey rear extensions fall under Permitted Development rights and can be built without a formal planning application, subject to size limits and local conditions. Side extensions and two-storey additions typically do require planning permission. We assess this at your free consultation.
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Under current Permitted Development rules, a detached house can extend up to 8 metres to the rear and a terraced or semi-detached house up to 6 metres, under the Neighbour Consultation Scheme. Standard Permitted Development allows 4 and 3 metres respectively. We can check what applies to your specific property at the consultation.
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A typical single-storey rear extension in London ranges from £90,000 to £180,000 depending on size, specification and complexity. A side return infill - one of the most popular projects in Victorian terraced houses - typically falls in the £80,000-£140,000 range. We can provide a realistic cost estimate based on comparable completed projects at stage two.
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A well-designed rear extension typically adds more in value than it costs to build, particularly in London. A kitchen-dining extension that opens onto the garden is consistently one of the highest-value improvements an owner can make. If unsure have a chat with a local estate agent.
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From your first consultation to completion, expect 9-14 months. This includes design, planning (8-10 weeks for a decision), detailed design, tender and a build period of typically 18-24 weeks depending on size.
