Double-storey extensions in Rayleigh

Covering Rayleigh

Rayleigh is about 12 miles south-east of Chelmsford. We also cover South Benfleet (3 miles to the south-west), Wickford and Pitsea.

Homes in the East of England

The East of England has a large stock of post-war and modern estate housing alongside period homes in market towns, which makes garage conversions, single-storey extensions and loft conversions popular.

What is 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
Structural engineer’s design and calculations
Joining the new first floor to the existing landing

What will a double-storey extension cost?

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 Rayleigh?

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 can change the price or programme?

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

Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
Survey at your house. We look at the existing structure, services and access, and agree what the design needs to achieve.
Design and fixed price. You get drawings and a written price for the agreed specification before anything is ordered.
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

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.

Will we need to move out?

Most people stay. The noisiest stage is when we break through into the existing first floor, which we plan for a short window.

Who deals with the council for a project in Rayleigh?

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 Rayleigh.