House Extension
Builders in Burford.
Trusted house extension specialists across Burford and Burfordshire. We manage the whole project under one roof — design, planning permission, structural calculations and the build itself.
Extensions
Fully licensed, insured, and custom-engineered services in Burfordshire.
Trusted house extension specialists
across Burford and Burfordshire.
Crawford Construction designs and builds house extensions in Burford for homeowners who want more space without the upheaval of moving. From a single-storey kitchen extension on a Victorian terrace in Headington to a double-storey addition on a 1930s semi in Summertown, we manage the whole project under one roof — design, planning permission, structural calculations and the build itself — with a fixed-price quote and a named project manager from first site visit to final handover.
As FMB-listed Burford builders with work completed across the county since 2003, we understand the difference between extending a period property bound by conservation rules and extending a modern home where the challenge is matching today's energy standards. Both demand a builder who knows Burford — its housing stock, its planning authorities and its character.
Extending older and period properties in Burford
A large share of Burford's housing is old — Victorian and Edwardian terraces, North Burford villas, 1930s semis and Cotswold stone cottages out toward Witney and the Cotswolds. Extending these homes well means respecting what's already there.
Many sit within an Burford conservation area or carry an Article 4 Direction, which removes some permitted development rights and means a rear or side extension that would be automatic elsewhere needs full planning permission here. Where a property is a listed building, any alteration also requires Listed Building Consent, with Historic England guidance shaping what's allowed.
We handle this sensitively: lime mortar and reclaimed or Cotswold stone to match existing elevations, careful detailing around original features, and structural work — RSJ steel beams, lintels and underpinning — engineered by a chartered structural engineer so the new opening or storey is sound. The result reads as though it was always part of the house.
Typical period-property work includes:
Extensions for modern and new-build homes
Newer homes in areas like Bicester, Didcot and Kidlington bring a different brief. Here the work is usually about lifestyle and value — a larger kitchen-diner, a ground-floor annexe, or a two-storey extension adding bedrooms and a bathroom above living space below.
The technical focus shifts to performance: meeting current Building Regulations (including Part L for energy efficiency), high levels of insulation, underfloor heating, and glazing that floods the space with light — bi-fold or sliding doors, roof lanterns and rooflights. Because the existing build is consistent and well-documented, modern extensions often move faster through design and Building Control sign-off.
Local Project Examples
Double-Storey Side Extension & Garage Conversion - Abingdon
View Projects GalleryBurford Project Seal
Fully Insured & Guaranteed
10-Year structural warranty covered.
Types of House Extension We Build in Burford
Choosing the right structural configuration matches your property's boundary layout with your living goals.
Rear extension
The classic Burford extension: pushing the kitchen or living space out into the garden, usually with glazed doors and rooflights. Most single-storey rear extensions fall under planning permission (Permitted Development). Typical cost: £2,800–£3,500 per square metre.
Side return extension
Victorian and Edwardian terraces in East Burford, Jericho and Cowley almost always have a narrow, wasted side alley. Infilling this side return transforms a cramped galley kitchen into a wide, light-filled kitchen-diner — often the highest-impact extension per pound spent in Burford's terraced streets.
Wrap-around extension
Combining rear and side return in an L-shape, a wrap-around delivers the largest ground-floor transformation — open-plan kitchen, dining and family space in one. These usually require planning permission, which we handle in-house.
Double-storey extension
Adding rooms on two floors at once — typically a kitchen extension below and a bedroom or bathroom above. The build cost per square metre is lower than single-storey because one roof and one foundation serve two floors. Crawford Construction recently completed a triple-storey extension with loft conversion on an 1894 semi in the North Burford Victorian Conservation Area. View details in our projects gallery.
Basement conversion
Where Burford's plot sizes limit outward extension — especially central and North Burford — going down adds space without losing garden. Our basement projects, like the Victorian end-of-terrace on James Street combining basement conversion, loft conversion and rear extension, show how much space a period terrace can gain.
Kitchen extension
Most rear and side return extensions are, at heart, kitchen projects. As bespoke kitchen designers and joiners as well as builders, we design the extension and the kitchen within it as one — a single fixed-price contract from structural steel to cabinet handles.
Every extension includes architect-led design, planning and building regulations handled in-house, structural calculations, a named project manager and our 10-year guarantee.
Planning permission and building regulations in Burford
Where you live in the county determines who decides your application. We deal regularly with Burford City Council, Cherwell District Council, South Burfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and West Burfordshire District Council, and we prepare and submit through the Planning Portal on your behalf.
We advise from day one on whether your project falls under permitted development or needs a full householder planning application, and we factor in the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 where your extension affects a shared boundary with a neighbour. Building Regulations approval and Building Control inspections are handled in-house as part of our design-and-build service, so nothing falls between an architect and a builder — there's only ever one team accountable.
How much does a house extension cost in Burford?
Most single-storey extensions in Burford currently fall around £2,800–£3,500 per square metre, depending on specification, access, ground conditions and finish. Double-storey work, listed-property detailing and high-end glazing change the figures again.
Because every house — and every Burford street — is different, we don't quote from a calculator. We provide a free, itemised, fixed-price quote after a site visit, so you can budget with real numbers and know exactly where your investment goes. No vague estimates, and no surprises halfway through.
Why choose Crawford Construction
as your Burford extension builder.
FMB-listed quality
Certified and vetted to strict Federation of Master Builders quality standards.
Fixed-price guarantee
Completely itemised quotes, with payment stages structured as work is completed.
One named project manager
James Crawford, Project Director, handles your build from first visit to final snagging.
10-year warranty
Full comprehensive insurance-backed structural guarantees for absolute safety.
Local knowledge
Deep understanding of Burford's planning authorities, conservation areas and housing stock that saves time.
Areas we serve
We build house extensions across Burford City Centre, Headington, Summertown, Jericho, Cowley, Iffley, North Burford and Botley, and throughout Burfordshire including Witney, Bicester, Abingdon, Didcot, Kidlington, Woodstock, Thame, Banbury and the Cotswolds.
Start your Burford house extension
Tell us about your project and we'll reply within 24 hours with the next steps. Free, no-obligation, and 100% confidential.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about extensions, planning and calculations in Burfordshire.
Not always. Many single-storey rear extensions fall under permitted development. But if your home is in an Burford conservation area, carries an Article 4 Direction, or is a listed building, you'll likely need full planning permission or Listed Building Consent. We assess this for you before any design work begins.
A typical single-storey extension runs around 10–16 weeks on site once approvals are in place; double-storey and listed-property projects take longer. Design and planning add time at the front end, which is why we start that process early.
Yes — period extensions are a core part of our work. We match materials such as Cotswold stone and brick, detail sensitively around original features, and navigate conservation and listed-building rules with the relevant council and Historic England.
Yes. As a design-and-build firm we manage feasibility, surveys, the planning application through the Planning Portal, structural calculations and Building Control inspections in-house, so you have a single point of contact throughout.
Always. After a site visit we provide a free, itemised, fixed-price quote, and you pay as work is completed rather than a large deposit upfront.
Let's build
somethingremarkable.
From first sketch to final handover — Oxfordshire's trusted team for homes built with precision, craftsmanship and care.
