Covering Washington
Washington is about 6 miles south-east of Newcastle upon Tyne. We also cover Chester-le-Street (4 miles to the south-west), Felling and Houghton-le-Spring.
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 does an upward extension involve?
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.
- Structural survey of walls and foundations
- New first-floor structure, walls and roof
- Staircase and changes to the ground floor layout
How much does an upward extension cost in Washington?
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 |
Planning and building rules in Washington
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. Houses in conservation areas and other protected land need full planning permission, as do most chalet conversions with front dormers.
What can affect an upward extension?
- 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.
From first call to completion
- Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
- We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
- Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
- Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.
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 long does it take?
About 12 to 24 weeks on site.
Do you work in Washington?
Yes. Washington is within our coverage for bungalow and upward extensions, along with nearby Chester-le-Street and Felling.
Bungalow and upward extensions near Washington
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Chester-le-Street
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Felling
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Houghton-le-Spring
- Bungalow and upward extensions in Hebburn
Learn more about bungalow and upward extensions, or see every project we cover in Washington.

