Modular Extensions Cost & Prices 2024

Modular extensions are also called prefabricated extensions, or just prefabs. 

Modular extensions are pre-built off-site, in a factory or workshop away from your home. Once completed, they are delivered to your house and slotted into place. 

Modular units are already used in schools, hospitals and commercial buildings of all kinds. Instead of crowding the site out with machinery and building from scratch, which takes time and is hostage to the fortunes of the weather, prefabs are simply dropped into place. 

This article will review the cost of modular extensions in the UK, factors that affect the cost and other common questions surrounding modular extensions.

Average Costs of Modular Extensions in the UK

We collected quotes from 8 modular and prefabricated extensions builders to find the following average quotes for standard projects.

Prices are for a standard modular extension project excluding decorating, electricals and plumbing. 

Size	Budget	Mid-Range	High-End
Small (15m²)	£15,000 - £25,000	£20,000 - £30,000	£30,000 - £45,000
Medium (20m²)	£20,000 - £30,000	£25,000 - £38,000	£35,000 - £55,000
Large (30m²)	£30,000 - £42,000	£36,000 - £48,000	£42,000 - £58,000

Overall, you can expect to pay around £1,000 to £2,200 per square metre. £1,000/m2 is only likely in the north of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In London, the Home Counties and South East, costs of £2,000/m2 and above are much more likely. 

Prices also depend on whether you want a conventional extension, garden room, orangery or conservatory.

Garden rooms that aren’t connected to the house will cost towards the lower end of the scale. These are great as small bedroom outhouses, studies and home offices. 

Orangeries and conventional solid wall extensions are similarly priced, whereas conservatories are perhaps marginally cheaper. 

Extra Costs

Here are some extra costs which mostly pertain to the interior of the modular extension:

Item	Mid-Range	High-End
Bathroom Cost	+ £2,500 - £5,000	+ £5,000 - £15,000
Kitchen Cost	+ £10,000 - £25,000	+ £12,000 - £50,000
Lantern Window (for Orangery)	+ £2,000 to £5,000	+ £5,000 to £10,000
Underfloor Heating	+ £50m²	+ £80/m²
Bifold Doors	+£5,000 - £8,000	+ £7,000 to £12,000
Planning Permission	+ £200

Factors That Affect The Cost of a Modular Extension

Modular extensions are usually built to a high standard, but there are many additional factors that affect the cost. Aside from the obvious cost factors, e.g. quality and size, you’ll need to bear the following in mind:

Base Material 

The base is a crucial component of a modular extension. Most bases today are made from steel or aluminium, which is durable and long-lasting. 

Insulation

Modular houses are often built using pre-made panels called structural insulated panels (SIPs).

These are pre-cut to the exact size required and slotted in the external panels of the prefab. Other insulation may be added, as well as moisture membranes, etc. 

Outer Wall

The outer wall can be constructed from timber cladding, metal panels, brick or rendering. Brick is one of the more expensive options.

If you want your modular extension to look like a standard conventional extension, and like the rest of your home, you’ll likely want brick walls. 

Access

Since the entire building will have to be craned into position, access really matters when it comes to pre-fabs.

It’s worth mentioning that it is possible to build various pieces off-site and then carry them on-site through the house, thus making the extension semi-modular.

Self Build points out that difficult access may result in having to temporarily close your road – you will likely only get permission to do that if you live somewhere quiet or in a cul-de-sac. 

Groundworks

Modular extensions still need a solid, flat base. Where a garden or patio space isn’t flat, or needs evening out or even digging (e.g. if it’s on an incline), then groundworks can add considerably more to the project’s cost. 

What Are Modular Extensions?

Conventional extensions are built on-site, at your home. The builders will transport materials to your site and build the extension there, pretty much from scratch. 

Contrastingly, modular extensions are built off-site. They’re pre-fabricated. Modular extension builders will construct the extension in an off-site factory or workshop, and then transport it to your home.

They’ll likely use a crane to lift the extension over part of your house or garden. That might sound alarming but cranes can lift many, many times more weight than an extension.

Mobile homes are similar to modular extensions – they’re built off-site and are driven to a mobile home park, and some are craned into place. Modular extensions follow the same principle. 

Are Modular Extensions Worth It?

Modular extensions are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners look for quick, convenient and effective ways to expand their homes. 

Many traditional extension builders are trying to give modular extensions a bad name as they’re eroding some of their business. The truth is that quality modular extensions are really not dissimilar in quality to conventional extensions. 

Will Modular Extensions Increase My Home’s Value?

There’s no evidence to say that modular extensions are worth any less than standard extensions. 

Extensions can boost the value and sales price of a home by around 15% to 25%. Nationwide found that extended 3-bed semi-detached houses were worth 23% more on average. 

Extensions, in general, display a return on investment (ROI) of around 71%, equating to average profits of approximately £17,000, according to studies by Zopa.

The average house price in November 2021 was around £270,000 – a 20% increase in value equals an increase in value of around £54,000 for an average home. 

If you want to see how the value of an extension increases or decreases in your area, The ONS has an interactive tool here. 

• Average 25m2 extensions in England and Wales are worth around £59,075.
• Larger 35m2 extensions are worth around £82,705.
• Smaller 15m2 extensions are worth around £35,445.

As property values continue to rise, so will these figures. In some parts of the country like London, the South-East and Home Counties, extensions can increase a property’s value by significantly more than the above figures. If you add a small extension to a house in Kensington and Chelsea, you will boost its value by well over £100,000!

In short, modular extensions will definitely add value to your home.

What Kind of Modular Extensions Are There?

Modular extensions are a little more limited in style and use compared to conventional extensions. The most popular type of modular extension is probably an orangery, which is a semi-enclosed conservatory-like space with a lantern window and solid walls. Orangeries are very popular and are highly sought after, so this is a sensible choice for many. 

The main options are: 

• Orangeries
• Conservatories 
• Garden rooms, which are not connected to the house (e.g. a garden office)
• Rooms attached to the house in the style of conventional extensions

In theory, modular extensions can be anything. Many homeowners choose to use modular extensions to add an outdoor office or study area, a studio, or another room at the rear of their house. 

Larger modular extensions can look pretty much the same as a standard outdoor extension and have a max size of around 50m2 per single building. 

Planning Permission for Modular Extensions

There is some debate about whether modular extensions can fall under the rules for temporary buildings, and how this might affect the planning process. 

All things considered, it’s wise to assume that your local authority will view your modular extension in exactly the same way as any other extension. 

It’s still possible to make certain extensions without Planning Permission under Permitted Development Rights (PDRs). 

PDRs do not apply in some of the following areas:

• Conservation Areas
• The Broads
• Sites of Specific Scientific Interest
• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• World Heritage Sites
• National Parks
• Listed buildings

If you live in any of these areas, you’ll need to contact your local authority for specific guidance. PDRs only apply to the ‘original fabric of the building’, which means that if your home has been extended already, you’ll need Planning Permission. 

Here are the current limits:

For all extensions:

• Cannot be higher than the original roof or 3m when built within 2m of a boundary 
• Can’t alter the roof in any way
• Must not extend beyond the front of the house
• Only half of the property’s land can be covered by extensions

For side extensions: 

• Cannot exceed a height of 4m
• Single storey only
• Can only be up to half with the width of the original house 

For all single-storey extensions:

• Cannot extend beyond the rear wall by more than 4m for detached or 3m otherwise 
• Cannot exceed 4m in height

If given Prior Approval by the Planning Authority following a special consultation scheme with neighbours (not Planning Permission), It’s possible to extend by: 

• Over 4 and up to 8 metres for detached houses
• Over 3 and up to 6 metres for all other houses

These above rules are fairly new and enable 30m2 extensions or larger to be constructed without Planning Permission. Always contact your Local Authority if you are unsure (you should anyway). You will also likely need to pay for a Lawful Development Certificate. 

Building Regulations

Since the modular extension is classed as a ‘liveable space’, Building Regulations apply in the same way as they would for any other extension or living space. Building Regulations cover everything from fire safety to ventilation and insulation. 

Since modular extensions are built off-site, they’ll already come spec’d out with most features needed to pass Building Regulations. 

Modular Extensions Advantages

Speed: Modular extensions are built off-site. Once they’re finished, they’re transported on-site and only minimal work is required to finish them off.

The only works that need to be carried out on-site are building the foundations or base, which can take around a week.

Once the extension is lifted into place, it might take 7 to 14 days to finish off, depending on what sort of decorating and interior design features are needed.

Moreover, modular extensions aren’t as easily delayed by the rain. 

Cost

Modular extensions are typically cheaper than conventional extensions. A rough estimate would be that they’re around 20% cheaper or so.

This will vary depending on the location, ease of access to the site, and the extension’s specifications. 

Less Hassle

Traditional on-site builds require the home to be turned into somewhat of a building site for as long as 2 to 3 months.

Modular extensions cause minimal site disruption and are much quicker to build, making them a relatively hassle-free option. This also means dealing with less noise and mess. 

High-Spec Materials

The latest generation of modular extensions are built using high-spec materials that are purpose-built for the job.

An example is SIP panels (structural insulated), which are high-spec thermal insulating panels. Most modular extensions boast strong insulation credentials. 

Eco-Friendly

Another USP of modular extensions are their eco-friendly credentials. Since they’re built off-site, they require fewer deliveries and less energy usage or carbon emissions per project.

Modular extensions have latched onto this and many offer sustainable sourcing guarantees.

Quality Control

Since modular extensions are made in a controlled factory environment, they’re subject to greater quality control. 

Modular Extensions Disadvantages

Lack of Bespoke Options

Modular extensions are best for conservatories, garden rooms and orangeries.

If you’re looking to extend your house and create an open plan living space or move your kitchen into your extension, modular extensions may not be an ideal option. They’re better for ‘bolting on’ or adding another room to your house.

With that said, modern modular extensions can be hard to tell apart from traditional extensions, so they don’t look ‘bolted on’. 

Access

Access is a big one, as modular extensions will have to be crane-lifted into your garden. This isn’t always as big of an issue as people expect – modern cranes are capable of lifting extremely heavy loads.

It’s possible to lift a modular extension over a semi-detached house. This might involve road closures, which will require meticulous planning with the local authority. 

Quality

There are budget, mid-range and high-end options when it comes to modular extensions and you do somewhat get what you pay for. A modern, high-spec build will last longer than a budget type, as you might expect.

Integration

Integrating a modular extension with your current house isn’t as easy as with a traditional extension. As mentioned, they work best as an addition rather than an integration. However, this is changing and modern modular extensions can be impossible to tell apart from traditional extensions. 

Get Pricing on Modular Extensions Near You

We’ve done our best to give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay for a modular extension.

However, our guides are not a substitute for a fixed quote specifically for you.

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