Side extensions are becoming increasingly popular as a way of gaining more ground floor living space, whilst using up the usually wasted side return of the garden. Maybe you even want to accommodate the needs of a growing family, working from home.

Side extensions often lack light or look out onto a fence or a neighbour’s courtyard but it does not have to be this way. Increase Space, which specialises in designing and buildings extensions to properties that have side returns, have a great range of roof lights type windows as part of many of their designs.

Building a side extension can make good financial sense too. The average central London property costs about £4,000 per square metre to buy, but the cost of extending in the city is only around £3,000 per square metre, So it seems an extension could save both cash and stress.