Extensions · Poole
House extensions in Poole
An extension in Poole needs a survey, drawings, planning or Building Regulations approval, structural calculations and the building work. We do all of it, so you only deal with us.
- ★ 5.0 on Google (15 reviews)
- Checkatrade 10/10 (20 reviews)
- We reply the same working day.
Houses in Poole and what they need
Poole has several distinct types of housing: large detached homes on the Sandbanks peninsula and in Canford Cliffs, Edwardian villas and 1930s semis in Upper and Lower Parkstone, and post-war semis and terraces in Hamworthy and Oakdale. What an extension needs to clear planning, and how the walls are built, depends on which of these a home is.
Sandbanks and Canford Cliffs
Many extensions on Sandbanks and in Canford Cliffs are large projects: basement additions, double-height glazing, or a full wrap-around rear extension. BCP Council's planning team pay close attention to design on this stretch of coastline, so a scheme needs to be right first time. We draw the plans and submit the planning application so the design meets the council's expectations before it is assessed.
Parkstone and Branksome Park
Upper and Lower Parkstone have Edwardian villas, 1930s semis, and mid-century detached homes, many on plots with room for a single-storey rear extension or a side-return infill. Branksome Park's larger plots suit two-storey extensions, adding a bedroom above and living space below. We draw the layout and check it against Permitted Development, the rules that let some extensions go ahead without a planning application, before you commit to a design.
Hamworthy and Oakdale
The post-war semis and terraces in Hamworthy and Oakdale sit on tighter plots than Parkstone or Sandbanks, so an extension needs to avoid overshadowing next door or taking up too much of the garden. We design to stay within Permitted Development limits where possible, so the project does not need a full planning application.
Planning permission for extensions in Poole
Poole falls under BCP Council (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole), formed in 2019 from the former Borough of Poole, Bournemouth Borough and Christchurch Borough. Most single-storey rear extensions in Poole fall within Permitted Development, but some neighbourhoods have extra restrictions worth checking before you settle on a design.
Permitted Development rules for extensions in Poole
Under current Permitted Development rules, a single-storey rear extension can project up to four metres from the original rear wall of a semi-detached house and six metres for a detached house, without a planning application. The larger home extension scheme allows up to six metres (semi-detached) or eight metres (detached) through a Prior Approval process, which involves notifying your neighbours. We check which of these your project qualifies for and prepare the right submission.
Flood zones near Poole Harbour
Homes close to Poole Harbour, along Sandbanks Road, and in parts of Hamworthy may fall within Flood Zone 2 or 3. An extension in these areas needs a Flood Risk Assessment as part of any planning application, and the ground-floor level may need to be raised. We check flood risk early and design the layout, including floor levels and drainage, around it.
Conservation areas in Poole
Parts of Poole Old Town, the Quay, and sections of Canford Cliffs fall within conservation areas, where Permitted Development rights are restricted. An Article 4 Direction may remove PD rights further for specific property types in these areas. We check your property against BCP Council's conservation area maps before recommending a design, so you are not paying for a design that cannot go ahead without full planning permission.
Why homeowners choose us
We combine design and construction experience, so the early layout discussion considers how a home could be altered as well as how it could look. Detailed scope, pricing and programme are agreed separately for each project.
Free
Free project review
Tell us what you want to do. We call you back the same working day to tell you what your project needs and whether it is worth doing. There is no cost and no obligation.
Clearer scope before work begins
We use the available drawings and project information to discuss the proposed work before a quote and contract are agreed.
One firm and one contract
You don't have to find and manage separate designers, engineers and builders.
You can stop after any step
The drawings are yours to use with any builder.
How it works
There are five steps. You can stop after any of them.
You can stop after any step. The drawings are yours, and you can use them with another builder.
We build in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and about 20 miles around them. For homes further away, our remote layout service works anywhere in the UK, and we can price the work, prepare tender documents and vet local builders.
Step 1
Free project review
Send us a few details or call. We look at what you want to do and tell you what it will need and whether it is worth taking further.
Free
Step 2
Layout Ideas Pack
We draw your home as it is now and up to three ways it could work, then fine-tune your favourite with you on a video call. Done remotely from your Rightmove link, floor plan or sketch, or in person with a measured site survey and a 3D point cloud scan.
Remote or in person
Step 3
Cost estimate
Once you have a layout you like, we can explain the further work needed and quote any separately agreed service.
Quoted separately
Step 4
Drawings, approvals and engineering
Full drawings, structural calculations, and the planning and Building Regulations applications. The house is measured at this stage if it hasn't been already.
Priced after the estimate
Step 5
The build
Near Poole, we can prepare a quote and contract using the information available for the agreed scope. Changes, site conditions and client decisions can affect scope, cost or programme. Further away, we can prepare tender information and support the selection of local builders.
Quoted for the agreed scope
What our customers say
- ★ 5.0 on Google (15 reviews)
- Checkatrade 10/10 (20 reviews)
- We reply the same working day.
“…they can do everything from start to finish for you.”
“…carried out layout drawings for a very reasonable amount. Josh also gave us a budget price to carry out the works.”
“I couldn't recommend Josh enough! He has been absolutely fantastic, nothing was too much trouble, he was happy to bounce lots of ideas back and forth until we were happy. He is polite, friendly and professional in every aspect. I would definitely be using his services again in the future when needed.”
“Josh got the plans for our extension completed and submitted very quickly. We had a number of amendments and obstacles to overcome but nothing was too much trouble for him. A very professional and efficient service.”
Questions
Do I need planning permission for a house extension in Poole?
Most single-storey rear extensions in Poole fall under Permitted Development and do not need planning permission. If your property is in a conservation area, such as Poole Old Town or parts of Canford Cliffs, PD rights may be restricted. We check your property against BCP Council records and advise whether a Certificate of Lawfulness or a full Householder Planning Application is the better option, both quoted after the review.
How much do extension plans cost in Poole?
Start with a free project review. If it makes sense to go ahead, the next step is the Layout Ideas Pack, done remotely or in person.
Which council handles planning applications in Poole?
BCP Council (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) handles all planning applications for Poole. It replaced the former Borough of Poole in 2019. The council charges an application fee, set nationally and revised each year, and the Planning Portal lists the current fees. We handle the submission as part of the planning application service, quoted after the review.
Can I extend a property near Poole Harbour?
Yes, but harbour-side properties may fall within Flood Zone 2 or 3, which needs a Flood Risk Assessment with the planning application. We identify flood risk early and design layouts with raised threshold details and drainage that satisfy both BCP Council and Building Regulations.
Tell us what you want to change
Send a few details and we will call you back the same working day to tell you what your project needs. There is no cost and no obligation.
We build in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and about 20 miles around them.
Step 1 of 3