Builders in Gloucester for extensions and renovations

Older terraced houses often have a narrow rear wing with a small kitchen and bathroom, and a side return alongside it. Extending into that space, opening up the ground floor or renovating rooms that have not been touched for decades can transform how these houses work. Structural changes in terraces usually involve shared walls, so the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 often applies.

The city's many inter-war and post-war semis are well suited to rear and side extensions. A single-storey rear extension can create an open kitchen and family room, while space at the side can sometimes take a double-storey extension, adding a bedroom above. We look at the existing structure, drainage runs and boundaries before suggesting what to build.

Gloucester sits on the River Severn, and some parts of the city are at higher risk of flooding than others. If your home is in a flood zone, the council may ask for a flood risk assessment with a planning application, and floor levels or materials may need extra thought. The Environment Agency's flood map is a good first check.

Planning applications for homes in the city go to Gloucester City Council. Some smaller extensions can be built under permitted development rights, but conservation areas, listed buildings and properties where those rights have been removed are treated differently.

Building regulations approval is needed for almost all extensions and structural alterations, and inspections take place at key stages of the work.

Many Gloucester homes have kept the same layout for decades, with a separate kitchen, dining room and front room. Removing a wall between the kitchen and dining room, moving a bathroom upstairs from a rear wing, or rebuilding a tired outrigger can make a house far easier to live in. Structural changes like these need a structural engineer's design and building regulations approval, and the order of work is planned so you can keep using as much of the house as possible. General building work such as new openings, wall repairs and drainage alterations often goes hand in hand with these projects.