Home extensions in DorsetFrom our Sturminster Newton team.
Make room for the way you live, whether that means a sociable kitchen in Blandford Forum, another bedroom near Shaftesbury or a better connection with your garden in Dorchester.
13 years
Hands-on building experience
Free
Site visit & quotation
£10m
Public liability insurance
Guaranteed
Workmanship on every project
Your home in Dorset
More space for Dorset homes, without losing what makes them work
Dorset has no single house type or setting. Around Sturminster Newton and the Blackmore Vale, village homes sit alongside market-town terraces, detached houses and newer estates. Blandford Forum, Shaftesbury, Gillingham and Sherborne each bring different street patterns, plot shapes and relationships with neighbouring properties. A useful extension starts by understanding those differences: where you enter the house, which rooms feel cramped, how the garden is used and where additional space would make everyday life easier.
Further south, Dorchester and the surrounding villages offer another mix of homes, while Bournemouth and Poole include suburban houses, bungalows and properties on more closely developed streets. A rear extension may suit a house with a generous garden, but a side addition can sometimes solve a narrow kitchen or awkward entrance more effectively. We look at the whole layout rather than assuming the largest possible footprint will produce the best result.
Dorset's landscape also matters. The River Stour runs through the county, while the Frome valley, coastal areas and higher ground present different site conditions. Parts of the county lie within Dorset National Landscape or Cranborne Chase National Landscape, also known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These settings can affect the planning approach, and a river nearby is a reason to investigate site-specific information rather than make assumptions about an individual property's flood risk.
Dash Home Extensions is based at 22 Rivers Mead, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1JE. We cover Dorset as well as Somerset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, offering build-only projects from existing planning permission and drawings, or a full turnkey package covering concept, design, planning permission and construction. A free site visit gives us the opportunity to discuss your home, your priorities and which route fits the information you already have.
Property types
- Market-town terraces where garden access, shared boundaries and the depth of the existing plan need careful thought.
- Detached and semi-detached family houses with opportunities to improve kitchens, circulation and upstairs accommodation.
- Bungalows where a considered addition can separate living, sleeping and utility spaces more effectively.
- Village cottages and older houses where existing materials, proportions and surrounding character influence the design.
- Modern estate homes where side access, parking and neighbouring windows help shape a workable extension.
Possible space needs
- A kitchen and dining space that accommodates cooking, homework and time together without blocking the route to the garden.
- An additional bedroom or bathroom planned alongside the stairs, landing and existing household routines.
- A practical utility area for laundry, coats and muddy footwear after time outdoors.
- A dedicated home-working room that does not take over the dining table or main living space.
- A more comfortable connection between the house and garden, with daylight and privacy considered together.
Services
Extensions we build in Dorset
Rear Extensions
A rear extension can open up a Dorset home's kitchen and dining arrangement while retaining a clear route outdoors. We consider garden depth, neighbouring windows and how the new room connects with the original house.
Side Extensions
Side extensions can put an underused strip beside a house to practical use. On Dorset village and suburban plots, access, boundaries and the balance of the front elevation need attention from the outset.
Wrap-Around Extensions
A wrap-around extension combines side and rear space to reshape an awkward ground floor. It can suit homes where simply adding one room would leave the original circulation problems unresolved.
Front Extensions
A front extension can improve an entrance or provide useful internal space where the plot allows. Across Dorset's varied streets, its relationship with neighbouring buildings and the building line needs careful consideration.
Porches
A porch can create a useful transition between outdoors and the main house, with space for coats and footwear. Its scale, doors and roof form should feel appropriate to the existing property.
Why Dash
A clearly managed Dorset extension project
Direct project management
Founder Jordan Copsey manages every project himself, from groundworks to completion. His 13 years of hands-on experience inform the practical discussions about your home and proposed extension.
A package suited to your starting point
Choose build-only if you already have planning permission and drawings, or full turnkey if you need concept, design, planning permission and the build brought together.
A properly considered quotation
Your site visit and quotation are free. Quotes are prepared with a freelance quantity surveyor, giving the proposed work a considered basis before you decide whether to proceed.
Continuity through the build
The team is sized to the project and stays on site until the work is done, rather than trades being pulled to other jobs mid-build. Workmanship is guaranteed, and we hold £10 million public liability insurance.
Local considerations
Questions worth resolving before building in Dorset
A successful extension depends on more than choosing an external appearance. These are some of the property and site issues that should be explored before the design and construction scope are settled.
Different houses need different layouts
A narrow terrace in a market town and a detached village bungalow need different solutions. Existing stairs, room depths and routes through the home can matter as much as the available garden space.
Ground and weather conditions vary
Dorset includes clay, chalk and other ground conditions, alongside river valleys and exposed coastal settings. Foundation requirements, drainage and weather exposure need site-specific consideration; a county-wide assumption is not a design.
Access and existing infrastructure
Village lanes, limited side passages and closely spaced houses can influence material deliveries and site arrangements. Existing drains and service routes also need consideration before a new footprint is treated as straightforward.
The original building needs understanding
Older houses can have different floor levels, wall construction and previous alterations. Understanding those connections helps define an extension that works with the existing home without assuming every hidden detail is already known.
Protected settings affect the approach
Conservation areas and designated landscapes can influence acceptable scale, appearance and supporting information. Being within Dorset National Landscape or Cranborne Chase does not replace the need to check the property's particular planning position.
Our process
Five clear steps from first visit to finished space.
- 01
1. Arrange your free site visit
Tell us where you live in Dorset and what you want to change. We arrange a convenient visit to discuss the existing layout, access and your priorities for the additional space.
- 02
2. Choose your project route
We establish whether you need build-only from existing planning permission and drawings, or the full turnkey route. The discussion identifies what information is available and what still needs resolving.
- 03
3. Review the proposal and quotation
Your free quotation is prepared with a freelance quantity surveyor. Review the proposed scope carefully so the work you are considering is understood before you commit.
- 04
4. Secure the agreed start date
A deposit secures your start date and covers site setup and initial materials. Payments then follow agreed project milestones rather than treating the entire build as one upfront payment.
- 05
5. Build through to completion
Jordan manages the work from groundworks to completion. The project-sized team remains on site until done, with the agreed design and construction scope guiding the build.
Planning a Dorset extension around the whole property
Identify the right planning authority
Dorset Council is the local planning authority for much of the county, while Bournemouth and Poole fall within BCP Council's area. Establishing the correct authority is an early step, particularly if you have been looking at advice intended for a different part of Dorset.
Some extensions may fall within permitted development rights, but this depends on the property, proposal and any relevant restrictions. Conservation-area status, listed status and previous alterations can change the questions that need answering. Planning permission and building regulations are separate matters, so one should not be treated as a substitute for the other.
Start with everyday movement and useful daylight
An extension should improve the rooms you already have as well as create new ones. In a deep house, a new rear room can leave the original centre darker unless the layout and daylight strategy are considered together. Door positions, circulation space and the connection to the garden deserve attention before finishes are selected.
Dorset homes also differ in orientation and exposure. More glazing is not automatically the best answer: privacy, summer sunlight, furniture placement and usable wall space all affect comfort. A kitchen, family room or workspace should be planned around how you expect to use it throughout an ordinary day.
Make the scope and site arrangements explicit
For a house in a narrow street or a village with restricted access, the practical arrangements form part of the discussion. Where materials can arrive, how the site is approached and which existing routes need to remain available are questions worth addressing before construction begins.
The same applies to the boundary between existing and new work. Discuss affected rooms, service connections and the extent of the agreed construction scope rather than relying on assumptions. With build-only, your existing permission and drawings provide the starting point; with full turnkey, those decisions develop from the initial concept.
Questions
Home extensions in Dorset: your questions
Call Jordan on 07713 932934, Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm.
Do you serve Dorset?+
Yes. Dash Home Extensions covers Dorset, including Sturminster Newton, Blandford Forum, Shaftesbury, Gillingham, Sherborne and Dorchester. Contact us about your address and proposed extension so we can discuss the site and arrange a free visit.
How quickly can you get to Dorset?+
We are based in Sturminster Newton, Dorset, and arrange a free site visit at a convenient time. Our hours are Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm. Contact us to agree a visit rather than relying on a fixed response or travel time.
How much does an extension cost in Dorset?+
The cost depends on size, structure, access, ground conditions, specification and the extent of changes to the existing house. We offer a free site visit and a free quotation prepared with a freelance quantity surveyor, rather than applying a single price to every Dorset home.
Do you offer emergency work in Dorset?+
No. We undertake planned extension projects, not emergency call-outs. If you are considering additional space, contact us during our Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm hours to discuss a planned project.
Will my Dorset extension need planning permission?+
That depends on the house, proposed work and applicable restrictions. Dorset Council or BCP Council will be relevant according to your address. Our full turnkey package includes planning permission as part of the project route; do not assume permitted development applies without checking.
Can you build from drawings I already have?+
Yes. Our build-only package starts from your existing planning permission and drawings. We discuss the available information and proposed construction scope before preparing the quotation.
What guarantee and insurance do you provide?+
We provide a workmanship guarantee and hold £10 million public liability insurance. Ask us to discuss the guarantee and insurance alongside the proposed work so you understand their relevance to your project.
Who manages the work, and how are payments arranged?+
Jordan Copsey manages every project himself from groundworks to completion. A deposit secures the start date and covers site setup and initial materials, followed by stage payments at project milestones.
Where we're based
22 Rivers Mead, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1JE. Dash Home Extensions homepage
Talk through your Dorset extension
Arrange a free site visit and tell us what is missing from your current home. Whether you have approved drawings or an early idea, we can discuss the appropriate package and prepare a free quotation.
Free quotation · Workmanship guarantee · £10m public liability insurance