Hi all,

I've recently purchased a ground floor flat in SW London and I'm exploring a side return extension.

I've attached the current floor plan and a rough idea of what the extension could look like.

A few things I'd love input on:

Is the side return worth it?

Current value of the property is around £550k. The extension would cost roughly £100k and should bring the property to circa £650k. I know the numbers don't stack up on paper as an investment, but the rationale is that we need more space - if we sell and upsize, we're looking at £50k in stamp duty and transaction costs alone. So extending feels like the smarter move financially, even if we're not "making money" on the build.

That said, I haven't seen many floor plans this small where a side return has been done, and I would love some honest feedback on whether it's worth it.

Layout questions:

- Which of the proposed options do you think represent the best use of space and is most likely to be the best? Or, is there another way you would recommend I do it that I haven't considered?

Or, the alternative: If the extension isn't worth it, we'd likely just do a kitchen renovation and make better use of the space as it stands. Is this the better option?

Would really value perspectives from architects, builders, or anyone who's been through a comparable project.

Thank you!