Double-storey extensions in Bishop's Stortford

Covering Bishop's Stortford

Bishop's Stortford is about 23 miles east of St Albans. We also cover Harlow (7 miles to the south), Hoddesdon and Hertford.

Homes in the East of England

Housing in the East of England ranges from post-war estates and modern developments to timber-framed and period homes in historic towns, so permitted development checks and conservation controls both feature regularly.

What do you get with a double-storey extension?

Two-storey work has to sit comfortably with the house and the neighbours, so most of the design effort goes into the roofline, window positions and how the new first floor connects to the landing. We handle the planning application, the structural design and the building control process, then build, roof and finish both floors.

Householder planning application
Structural engineer’s design and calculations
Joining the new first floor to the existing landing

What is the guide price for a double-storey extension in Bishop's Stortford?

Indicative costs for double-storey extensions. London and the South East usually sit towards the top of each range.

Double-storey extensions	Guide price incl. VAT
Standard specification	£2,400 to £2,900 per m²
Good specification	£2,900 to £3,400 per m²
High specification	£3,400 to £3,850 per m²

How is a double-storey extension approved in Bishop's Stortford?

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.

Two-storey rear extensions can sometimes be permitted development in England (no more than 3 m deep, at least 7 m from the rear boundary, roof pitch to match), but most two-storey and all two-storey side extensions need householder planning permission. Expect around eight weeks for a decision once the application is validated.

What can affect a double-storey extension?

Neighbours’ light is assessed using the 45-degree guide many councils use.
The first-floor link can mean moving a bathroom or reshaping the landing.

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.
Survey at your house. We look at the existing structure, services and access, and agree what the design needs to achieve.
Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.

Your questions answered

How much does a two-storey extension cost?

Typically about £2,400 to £3,850 per square metre of new floor area including VAT. A 40 m² extension across two floors is often around £100,000 to £150,000 depending on specification.

How long does a two-storey extension take?

Around 14 to 24 weeks on site, plus the planning period before that.

Who deals with the council for a project in Bishop's Stortford?

We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.

Also covering

Learn more about double-storey extensions, or see every project we cover in Bishop's Stortford.