Kitchen Extensions Derby
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01332-529933
A kitchen extension adds space, but it also adds a lot of separate jobs that have to line up in the right order: foundations and steelwork, first-fix electrics and plumbing, plastering, the planning application, and only then the kitchen itself. Get any of those out of sequence and the kitchen ends up going in around trades still finishing the building work, which is where a lot of extension projects lose weeks.
Derby Kitchen Fitter runs the whole project as one job rather than handing it to a chain of separate contractors: the design, the planning and building regs paperwork, the structural build, and the kitchen fit-out at the end are all managed by the same team, from the first site visit through to a written sign-off.
What's Covered in the Build - and What's Priced Separately
- Design and 3D visualisation of the new layout before any building work starts
- Structural building work - foundations, walls, roof and any steel beams needed to open up the space
- Plastering of all new walls and ceilings
- Electrics, including new sockets, lighting circuits and safety certification for the extended space
- Plumbing, moving or adding pipework to suit the new kitchen layout
- Basic decoration once the building work is finished
- Planning permission and building regulations paperwork, submitted and managed on your behalf
- Fitting the new kitchen once the extension shell is complete - cabinets, worktops, plumbing and electrical connections
Not Included / Costed Separately
- Kitchen units, worktops and appliances themselves - quoted separately depending on the range chosen, whether that's supplied through the home improvement shop or a brand such as Howdens or Wren
- Extra groundworks for difficult ground conditions - only confirmed after a site survey, since this varies from property to property
- Changes made to the design after the quote is signed off, which are priced as variations rather than folded into the original figure
How a Kitchen Extension Project Runs, Start to Finish
- Design visit and survey -- A designer measures the space, talks through the layout you want, and puts together CAD options so you can see how the extension and the new kitchen will work together before anything is costed.
- Written quote and planning route -- You get an itemised quote covering the build, plastering, electrics, plumbing and the kitchen fit-out, along with advice on whether the extension can go ahead as permitted development or needs a full planning application.
- Planning and building regs submission -- Where permission or a building regs sign-off is needed, the paperwork is submitted and managed on your behalf, including any structural calculations for steel beams opening up the space.
- The build -- Foundations, walls, roof and any steelwork go in first, followed by first-fix electrics and plumbing moved or added to suit the new kitchen layout, then plastering and basic decoration.
- Kitchen fit-out -- Once the shell is finished, the same crew fits the units and worktops and connects the plumbing and electrics, including Gas Safe sign-off if a gas hob or range cooker is going in.
- Sign-off and guarantee -- A final walkthrough checks the finish against the original quote, and you're left with the certificates for the electrical and gas work plus the written guarantee.
What a Kitchen Extension Costs in Derby
Price mostly comes down to size and how much structural work has to happen before the kitchen goes in. A side return extension usually costs less than a full rear build of the same area, because one or two walls already exist and there's less foundation and roof work involved. A single storey rear extension moves up a band once it passes the sort of width and depth that needs steel beams to open up the space, and an L-shaped or glazed extension costs more again because of the extra roof, glazing or floor area. On top of the build itself, the kitchen units, worktops and appliances are priced separately depending on the range you choose, and ground conditions or a full planning application rather than permitted development can add time and cost that only becomes clear once a site survey has been done. A full, itemised quote needs a site visit - the figures above are a starting point for budgeting, not a fixed price.
Which Type of Kitchen Extension Suits Your Derby Home?
| Extension type | Typical space added | Planning permission | Typical cost band |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side return | 5-10m² along the side of the house | Often permitted development, provided it stays within half the width of the original house | Toward the small extension band, since one or two walls already exist |
| Single storey rear | 10-20m² across the back of the house | Often permitted development up to 3m deep (4m for detached homes) | Small to medium band depending on width and finish |
| L-shaped (rear and side combined) | 20-30m² of open-plan space | More likely to need full planning permission once the combined footprint passes permitted development limits | Large extension band, reflecting the open-plan kitchen-diner it creates |
| Conservatory, glass or orangery extension | 10-20m² of glazed space | Usually straightforward, but conservation areas like parts of Duffield attract closer scrutiny | Similar to a standard rear extension, plus the glazing specification chosen |
Planning and Building Regs Handled Before the Kitchen Ever Goes In
Most of the problems on a kitchen extension happen before the kitchen is even delivered - a planning condition that gets missed, or a building control sign-off that's still outstanding when the units are due in. Derby Kitchen Fitter submits and manages the planning permission and building regulations paperwork as part of the project, rather than leaving you to chase a separate architect or approved inspector while the build is already under way, so the extension is legally signed off before the fit-out trades are booked in around it.
That same single-project approach carries through to the trades themselves. The plastering, electrics and plumbing needed to turn a bare extension shell into a finished kitchen are done by the same crew that then fits the units, so nobody is waiting on someone else's schedule and there's one point of contact if anything needs adjusting along the way. The finished job carries a 5-year labour and installation guarantee alongside a 2-year guarantee on products, and if your extension is being built around a supply-only kitchen from Howdens, Wren, Magnet or a premium German handleless system, the same crew fits that too rather than treating it as a separate job.
Kitchen Extensions Across Derby, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Most enquiries come from Derby itself, where the terraced streets around the city centre tend to suit a side return extension better than a full rear build, since there's often a narrow side gap to reclaim rather than open garden to build into. Out in Duffield, part of the town sits within a conservation area, so an extension there gets checked against stricter material and design rules at the planning stage rather than left as a surprise once the build starts. Recent projects in Long Eaton, Borrowash and Sandiacre have mostly been single storey rear builds on 1930s and post-war semis, while larger L-shaped extensions have gone into bigger plots around West Bridgford and Beeston. The same crew also covers Ilkeston, Heanor, Ripley, Alfreton and the rest of Nottingham within the usual travelling distance, so the same trades and project management apply wherever the job is.
Kitchen Extension Questions From Derby Homeowners
Do I need planning permission for a kitchen extension in Derby?
Many single storey rear and side return extensions fall under permitted development, provided they stay within the usual depth and height limits - typically up to 3m for an attached house and 4m for a detached one. Larger L-shaped extensions, or any extension in a conservation area such as parts of Duffield, are more likely to need a full planning application. This gets checked at the design stage, and we submit and manage the paperwork if it's needed.
Will I need building regulations sign-off as well as planning permission?
Yes, in almost every case - building regulations cover the structural work, insulation, and the electrical and plumbing installations, and apply even to extensions that don't need planning permission. This is submitted and managed alongside the build so the extension is signed off before the kitchen fit-out starts.
Can I use my own kitchen units, or does it have to be a package deal?
Either works. If you've already chosen a supply-only kitchen from somewhere like Howdens or Wren, the same crew fits it to the manufacturer's specification. If you'd rather have the units and worktops sourced and quoted as part of the project, that's priced separately depending on the range.
How long does a kitchen extension take from start to finish?
It depends on the size and whether a full planning application is needed rather than permitted development, since that alone can add several weeks before building work can start. Once building work is under way, a side return typically finishes faster than a full rear or L-shaped extension, purely because there's less foundation, roof and steelwork involved.
Can I still use my kitchen while the extension is being built?
For most of the build, yes, since the structural work happens around the existing kitchen. The point you lose kitchen use is usually the final connection stage, when the old units are disconnected and the new fit-out goes in - we plan that stage with you in advance so you know roughly how many days to expect without a working kitchen.
What happens to my old kitchen units and building waste?
Everything is cleared under a registered waste carrier licence, so old units, rubble and offcuts don't get left for you to deal with or dispose of yourself.
Does the price include the kitchen units and appliances?
No - the build, plastering, electrics, plumbing and fitting labour are covered in the extension quote, but the units, worktops and appliances themselves are quoted separately depending on the range you choose, since this varies so much from one kitchen to the next.
What if the ground conditions turn out to be difficult once you start digging?
This is one of the few things that can't be priced from a design visit alone - if a site survey or the early stages of digging show unusual ground conditions, that extra groundworks cost is confirmed separately rather than folded into the original figure.
Is the finished work guaranteed?
Yes - the labour and installation is covered by a 5-year guarantee, and the kitchen products themselves carry a 2-year guarantee.
Start With a Design Visit and a Realistic Timeline
Planning permission and building regs applications take time to process, so the earlier a design visit happens, the earlier that paperwork can go in and a realistic build date can be set. Get in touch to arrange a free design visit and a written, itemised quote for your kitchen extension.
Kitchen Fitters Derby, Fitted Kitchens, Derby
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