Covering Chippenham
Our coverage around Chippenham (SN15) also includes Corsham (3 miles to the south-west) and Calne.
Homes in the South West
Homes in the South West range from coastal and rural properties in stone and slate to city terraces and modern estates, so extensions are designed to match the local materials.
What is an upward extension?
An upward extension adds a new storey on top of an existing house, most often turning a bungalow into a two-storey or chalet-style home. It can double the floor area without using any of the garden.
- Design and planning or prior approval application
- New first-floor structure, walls and roof
- Staircase and changes to the ground floor layout
How much should I budget for an upward extension?
Guide prices for bungalow and upward extensions, including VAT where it applies. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing after the survey.
| Bungalow and upward extensions | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Chalet conversion with dormers (total) | £45,000 to £85,000 |
| New first floor, standard specification | £2,200 to £2,800 per m² |
| New first floor, good specification | £2,800 to £3,300 per m² |
| New first floor, high specification | £3,300 to £3,800 per m² |
Do you need permission for an upward extension in Chippenham?
In England we deal with the council’s planning team for permission or a lawful development certificate, with building control (the council or a registered building control approver) for inspections, and with neighbours under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 where it applies.
In England, Class AA permitted development allows an extra storey on many detached and semi-detached houses built between July 1948 and October 2018, subject to a prior approval application covering design, neighbours’ amenity and other matters.
What should I think about before starting?
- Some bungalow foundations need strengthening before a storey can be added.
- The house is exposed while the roof is off, so the sequence is planned tightly.
What are the steps?
- Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
- We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
- Design and fixed price. You get drawings and a written price for the agreed specification before anything is ordered.
- Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.
What people ask before starting
Can I add a first floor to my bungalow?
Often yes, if the walls and foundations can carry the load and planning allows. We check the structure first.
Is an upward extension permitted development?
In England, Class AA allows it on many post-1948 houses through a prior approval application. Elsewhere planning permission is needed.
Do you work in Chippenham?
Yes. Chippenham is within our coverage for bungalow and upward extensions, along with nearby Corsham and Calne.
Other towns nearby
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Corsham
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Calne
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Devizes
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Trowbridge
Learn more about bungalow and upward extensions, or see every project we cover in Chippenham.