House extensions in Tetbury

An extension to a Cotswold stone house works best when it uses matching stone, a suitable roof covering and details that reflect the original building. A subservient design, where the extension sits slightly lower or set back from the main house, is often preferred by planners because it keeps the original building clearly visible.

A single-storey rear extension can open a traditional house onto its garden, creating a kitchen or living room with far more light than the original rooms. Careful choices of glazing, roof form and stone help it sit naturally against the older building.

Double-storey extensions and side extensions add significant space but are more visible, so their design is closely looked at. In the Cotswolds National Landscape, side extensions are not covered by permitted development and need planning permission from Cotswold District Council.

If your home is listed, listed building consent will be needed alongside planning permission. All extensions also need building regulations approval.

On older buildings this involves balancing modern standards for insulation and ventilation with the needs of traditional construction, so that the old walls can still breathe where they meet the new work.

The details are what make a Tetbury extension look right. Natural Cotswold stone laid to match the coursing of the existing walls, stone or reconstituted stone slates on the roof, and windows in proportions that suit the house all help. Lime mortar is often the right choice where the extension meets older walls, so moisture can still move through the stone. Copings, sills and lintels in matching stone finish the work.

Where a contemporary design is preferred, a limited palette of quality materials such as timber, zinc or glass can sit well against old stone, as long as the proportions are right. Samples of stone and mortar can be compared against the house before work starts, and settling these choices early helps both the planning application and the build.