Covering Chester-le-Street
Our coverage around Chester-le-Street (DH3) also includes Washington (4 miles to the north-east) and Houghton-le-Spring.
Homes in the North East
The North East has terraced housing including Tyneside flats, inter-war semis and post-war estates, so loft conversions, rear extensions and layout changes are popular ways to add space.
What goes into a double-storey extension?
A double-storey extension adds new rooms on both the ground and first floor in one build, typically a larger kitchen or living space downstairs and an extra bedroom or bathroom above. Because the roof and foundations are shared, the cost per square metre is usually lower than a single-storey extension.
- Householder planning application
- Foundations, steelwork, brick and block walls, roof
- Windows, insulation, plastering, electrics and plumbing
What will a double-storey extension cost?
Typical ranges for double-storey extensions. Ground conditions, access and specification move the final figure, which we fix in writing before work starts.
| 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 |
What approvals does a double-storey extension need in England?
English projects need planning clearance from the local council, building regulations sign-off from building control, and party wall notices where the work is on or near a shared boundary. We prepare and manage all three.
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 change the price or programme?
- Side extensions close to a boundary are often set back or stepped down so they do not create a terraced effect.
- The first-floor link can mean moving a bathroom or reshaping the landing.
How does the project run?
- 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.
- Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
- We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.
What people ask before starting
Does a two-storey extension need planning permission?
Usually yes. In England some two-storey rear extensions are permitted development, but side extensions over one storey always need planning permission.
Is a two-storey extension better value than a single-storey one?
Per square metre, usually yes, because the foundations and roof serve two floors of space.
Who deals with the council for a project in Chester-le-Street?
We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.
Also covering
- Double-storey extensions in Washington
- Double-storey extensions in Houghton-le-Spring
- Double-storey extensions in Stanley
- Double-storey extensions in Durham
Learn more about double-storey extensions, or see every project we cover in Chester-le-Street.

