Covering County Durham
Our coverage across County Durham includes Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees and Durham.
Homes in the North East
In the North East, terraces, semis and bungalows all offer room to extend, with stone-built villages and conservation areas in parts of County Durham and Northumberland.
What is included in an upward extension in County Durham?
The first question is whether the existing walls and foundations can carry the extra load, so we start with a structural survey. Then we design either a full first floor or a raised roof with dormers, handle planning or prior approval, and build the new storey while protecting the floor below.
- Design and planning or prior approval application
- Roof removal and temporary weather protection
- Staircase and changes to the ground floor layout
What is the guide price for an upward extension in County Durham?
Use these ranges to budget for bungalow and upward extensions; the survey turns them into a fixed price for the agreed specification.
| 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 County Durham?
Projects in England go through two separate checks. Planning (or confirmation that the work is permitted development) comes from the district, borough or unitary council, and building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Where work touches a shared wall or digs near a neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 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 can change the price or programme?
- The staircase takes space from the ground floor plan.
- The house is exposed while the roof is off, so the sequence is planned tightly.
How does the project run?
- Tell us about the project. Call, use the guide price tool or send the form with a few photos and a postcode.
- Free site visit. We measure up, look at access, drains and the structure, and talk through options and budget.
- Price and paperwork. The design is priced line by line, and we submit the planning and building control applications.
- We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.
Bungalow and upward extensions: common questions
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.
How much does it cost to add a storey?
Around £2,200 to £3,800 per square metre of new floor including VAT, or £45,000 to £85,000 for a chalet conversion with dormers.
Who deals with the council for a project in County Durham?
We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.
Bungalow and upward extensions in nearby towns
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Darlington
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Hartlepool
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Stockton-on-Tees
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Durham
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Chester-le-Street
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Billingham
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Stanley
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Consett
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Newton Aycliffe
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Bishop Auckland
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Seaham
Learn more about bungalow and upward extensions, or see every project we cover in County Durham.