Terracotta tile-clad rear extension by Emil Eve Architects. Photo by Taran Wilkhu.
Thinking about building a rear extension?
Whether you’re looking for an open-plan living space, a light-filled kitchen, or a seamless connection to your garden, a well-designed rear extension can truly transform your home and enhance its value.
In this article, we showcase 23 inspiring rear extension ideas by UK architects – from small garden flats to large detached period homes – to spark your imagination.
Photo by Christian Brailey.
Stock brick, limestone and oak are used in this extension by Architecture For London provide a subtle contemporary twist to a Victorian house in east London.
Photo by Johan Dehlin.
This partially subterranean extension by architecture studio Pricegore utilises slimline floor to ceiling glazing creates an expansive view of a well-stocked rear garden, drawing the outside into the home.
Photo by Stijn Bollaert.
A corrugated steel-clad rear extension, roof addition and garden studio by Pashenko Works more than doubled the floor area of the existing house to accommodate several family generations.
Photo by Tim Crocker.
This single storey rear extension by Feilden Fowles Architects features large format sliding doors that open directly to the garden, connecting a new open plan kitchen to the outdoors.
READ: Durant Street by Feilden Fowles Architects
Photo by Killian O’Sullivan.
Strict planning constraints meant that this part two storey, part single storey brick extension Sam Tisdall Architects had to seamlessly match the architecture of the existing house.
READ: Richmond Townhouse by Sam Tisdall Architects
Photo by Chris Wharton.
Replacing an existing rear extension, Architecture studio Benjamin Wilkes created new timber-clad extension to accommodate a flexible kitchen-dining area that can be reconfigured into a large entertaining space.
Photo by French + Tye.
Situated in a conservation area, this project by Bradley Van Der Straeten works within the building's existing footprint, replacing an existing conservatory and rear extension with single and double storey brick volumes. An additional storey was also added above an existing side extension to create a triple-height entrance space.
Photo by Angus Bremner.
Oliver Chapman Architects added a garden room to a 19th-century end-terrace home in Edinburgh, blending an Arts and Crafts aesthetic with smart-home technology. The design honours traditional craftsmanship with exposed brick walls, visible ceiling beams, and bespoke furniture.
READ: Flitch House by Oliver Chapman Architects
Photo by Megan Taylor.
This project by Nimtim Architects adds rear and side extensions, integrated with a refurbished garage to create a cohesive external appearance that wraps around the original house. The extension is clad in a pale pink, textured render, complementing yet subtly contrasting the existing house.
Photo by Radu Palicica.
Proctor & Shaw designed a double-height extension to provide additional living, dining, and study spaces. The generous volume floods the interior with natural light, adding a sense of drama to the rear of the house.
Photo by James Retief.
Hand-poured hempcrete and low-carbon LC3 cement was used to construct the walls and floor of this a sustainable extension to a Victorian home by architecture studio Cairn. This project also prioritises recycled and reclaimed materials throughout.
Photo by Johan Dehlin.
This single-storey extension by Will Gamble Architects is integrated into the remains of a 17th-century factory building to create a spacious kitchen-dining-living area. The design fills half of the ruin, leaving the other half untouched to reveal the internal face of the historic walls. The scheme also features a courtyard and a roof terrace, accessible from the first floor of the house.
Photo by Unknown Works.
Unknown Works' extension to this east London home stands out with its bold use of vibrant yellow render on both the front and rear. The striking yellow forms frame the entrance and rear extension, creating a lively contrast with the existing house and highlighting the bright, skylit kitchen and dining area that opens onto the garden.
Photo by Nick Deardon.
Proctor & Shaw's extension in East Dulwich features sliding doors that open the kitchen and dining area to an outdoor patio, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor spaces. The steeply angled roof with deep skylights enhances daylight, while large overhangs provide shelter and privacy, connecting the home to the landscaped garden below.
Photo by James Brittain.
A partially cantilevered, stone-clad extension by Tuckey Design Studio contrasts with the lime-rendered exterior of this 400-year-old cottage. Locally quarried stone helps maintain the character of both the building and its surroundings.
Photo by Jake Fitzjones.
Alison Brooks Architects added two angled volumes to a Victorian semi-detached house. The extensions were designed to draw in natural light, connect to the garden, and frame views of a mature walnut tree.
Photo by Richard Davies.
5th Studio designed a shingle-clad extension for a listed former inn in Cambridgeshire, raised on a concrete slab to appear as if it hovers above the garden and to protect against potential flooding. The shingles, inspired by local agricultural buildings and the inn's terracotta roof, create a seamless surface, while a board-marked concrete section at the rear connects to a proposed garden wall.
Photo by Ståle Eriksen.
This award winning extension to a Victorian terraced house, designed by Oliver Leech Architects, carefully complements the original building. Extending into the side return and out to the rear, it creates a flexible kitchen-dining space with generous access to the rear garden.
READ: Vestry Road by Oliver Leech Architects
Photo by Taran Wilkhu.
Emil Eve Architects has transformed this house in east London with loft and rear extensions featuring angular forms and terracotta tile cladding. These additions include large windows and a contemporary bay window with a seat, creating a cohesive design that enhances both the interior light and connection to the garden.
Photo by Simone Bossi.
Jonathan Burlow Architects’ minimal bungalow extension in Kent, named "Over the Edge," features a subtle cantilever that creates the illusion of the structure hovering above the ground. The design draws inspiration from 18th-century grain store buildings, with a polished concrete plinth elevating the extension while Danish clay bricks, laid in a stack bond, enhance the overall effect.
Photo by Christian Brailey.
This extension by Christian Brailey Architects integrated to garden studio flat in an Edwardian terrace, showcases was designed with an emphasis on sustainability and functionality. The use of prefabricated techniques enhances efficiency and reduces site waste while high-performance glazing and breathable wood fibre insulation ensure a low energy consumption, contributing to a CO2 output of just 1.3 tonnes per year.
Photo by AOMD.
A garden extension by Architectural Office Michael Dillon is nestled at the rear of a detached Edwardian house. The project features a brick chimney stack that anchors the building to the site, while corner glazing offers extensive views of the surrounding countryside.
Photo by Sue Barr.
Janke’s Barn, a Grade II-listed threshing barn in Essex by Lynch Architects, has been carefully restored along with a stable block and piggery, with lean-to structures repurposed to create bedrooms facing the courtyard and garden. Landscape designer Joanne Bernstein's gardens are integral to the design.
If you live in a house not on designated land, you can often build an extension without planning permission under permitted development guidelines.
However, if your property is on designated land or subject to an Article 4 Direction from your local authority, your permitted development rights may be restricted.
For listed buildings, you’ll need listed building consent for your rear extension.
Permitted development rights do not apply to flats or maisonettes, so planning permission is required for these properties.
All extensions must also comply with Building Regulations. If your work involves a shared boundary wall, you must adhere to the Party Wall Act.
About the author
Aron Coates, an architect with over two decades of experience, draws upon a wealth of residential architectural expertise, encompassing projects ranging from the restoration of historic structures to the design of contemporary homes.
