Home Extensions in Cambridge: Where to Start

Taking on a home extension to give your family some breathing room is an exciting endeavour. With so many moving parts, establishing well thought out plans helps ensure your renovation goes off without a hitch! But where to start?

Let’s have a look at some important considerations before you dive into your home extension project!

Pre-build considerations for home extensions in Cambridge

Budget

To ensure your expectations are managed from the outset, take some time to review your finances and come up with a budget. Whether it’s a hard boundary or a general range, having a defined budget, even loosely so, will be beneficial to your Renovation Consultant and whoever you're renovating with. 

Purpose

Do you simply need more space, or is there a specific reason you want to build an extension? It could be that you’re proactively planning for the future when you want elderly loved ones to live or stay close by, or you want to be able to host family holidays for decades as your family grows and grows. 

Arrange consultations and meet with potential professionals

Who you partner with matters. Most contractors and project management professionals offer free consultations to discuss your goals. Take the opportunity to get to know them, what they specialise in, and how they work. Processes will differ from team to team, but most will include some sort of concept design process, building, and hand-off procedure, depending on the scope of services they offer. 

At Refresh, our process is comprehensive and sees you through your home extension from start to finish, project management included. Even if you don’t work with us, we want you to find the best fit, so make sure you interview at least two or three teams. 

Renovating with Refresh

Every Refresh renovation begins and ends with your Renovation Consultant, who will remain your single point of contact throughout your house extension project. They’ll guide you through the early planning stages of concept designs and working drawings, schedule skilled craftsmen, and arrange the appropriate permits, amongst many other things. 

Our 5-step approach includes:

1. Briefing & consultation
2. Concept & feasibility
3. Working drawings & cost estimates
4. Active construction
5. Project delivery

House extension planning permissions

Building a home extension in Cambridge without first applying for the appropriate permits leaves you vulnerable to a myriad of repercussions. It can be intimidating, but it’s all part of the process and if you’re working with experienced professionals (like Refresh!) it can even be quite painless.

House extensions typically require planning permission, building regulation approval, or both. The Cambridge City Council has a planning portal through which you, or a professional working on your behalf, can pay fees and submit all necessary supporting documentation. Most house extension proposals would be considered “minor applications” and should be decided upon within eight weeks. 

Expect the unexpected

Surprises are inevitable during home renovations. Whether it’s discovering excessive damage, finding unpermitted work, or uncovering beautiful original flooring, you never know what you’ll find once construction begins. 

To help stay prepared, it’s a good idea to set aside a contingency fund. Recommendations vary from person to person, but anywhere between 5-20% is typical. Of course, the more, the better, but even a small contingency fund is better than nothing!

How much does a house extension cost?

House extension prices vary due to the extensive range of project scopes out there. A fair range  to pay is anywhere from £45,000 to £90,000, but there are outliers on each end of that spectrum. A loft conversion or second storey conversion, for example, may cost more. 

One of our home extension projects from March 2022, cost £80,000 inclusive of all materials, labour, permits, and project management. You can read all the details of the house extension project here. 

Does your family need room to grow?

A home extension in Cambridge may do the trick! Get in touch with your local Renovation Consultant to arrange an initial consultation and start the process.