Double-storey extensions in Cricklewood

Covering Cricklewood

We work in Cricklewood (NW2) and the places around it, including Kilburn, Willesden and Notting Hill.

Homes in London

Much of London’s housing is Victorian and Edwardian terraces, which is why side return extensions, rear dormers and mansards are so common. Many streets are in conservation areas, and several boroughs use Article 4 directions that remove some permitted development rights.

What does a double-storey extension involve?

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.

Foundations, steelwork, brick and block walls, roof
Windows, insulation, plastering, electrics and plumbing
Joining the new first floor to the existing landing

What is the guide price for a double-storey extension in Cricklewood?

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

Planning and building rules in Cricklewood

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.

What should I think about before starting?

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?

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.

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 Cricklewood?

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

Other towns nearby

Learn more about double-storey extensions, or see every project we cover in Cricklewood.