Double-storey extensions in Oxfordshire

Covering Oxfordshire

We cover Oxfordshire, including Oxford, Banbury, Abingdon and Bicester, and the towns around them.

Homes in the South East

The South East has a lot of 1930s and post-war semi-detached housing, well suited to rear extensions and hip-to-gable loft conversions, alongside period properties in conservation areas that need a more careful design.

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.

Measured survey, design and planning drawings
Windows, insulation, plastering, electrics and plumbing
Joining the new first floor to the existing landing

How much does a double-storey extension cost in Oxfordshire?

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

How is a double-storey extension approved in Oxfordshire?

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 should Oxfordshire homeowners check first?

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.

From first call to completion

Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
Survey at your house. We look at the existing structure, services and access, and agree what the design needs to achieve.
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.

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.

How do I get a price for double-storey extensions in Oxfordshire?

Use the guide price tool for a ballpark figure, then book a visit for a fixed written price for the agreed specification.

Double-storey extensions near Oxfordshire

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