Covering Bedfordshire
We cover Bedfordshire, including Luton, Bedford, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard.
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 goes into a single-storey extension?
A single-storey extension adds one level of new floor space to the back or side of a house, usually to open up a kitchen, dining or family room. It is the most common way to gain space without moving, and many can be built without a planning application.
- Building control application and inspections
- Foundations, drainage and structural steel
- First-fix and second-fix electrics, plastering and making good
How much should I budget for a single-storey extension?
Use these ranges to budget for single-storey extensions; the survey turns them into a fixed price for the agreed specification.
| Single-storey extensions | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Standard specification | £2,600 to £3,000 per m² |
| Good specification | £3,000 to £3,500 per m² |
| High specification | £3,500 to £4,000 per m² |
Planning and building rules in Bedfordshire
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.
In England a single-storey rear extension can often go ahead under permitted development: up to 3 m deep on an attached house or 4 m on a detached one, no higher than 4 m, with eaves no higher than 3 m within 2 m of a boundary.
What can affect a single-storey extension?
- Building on or near a shared boundary usually means serving a party wall notice in England and Wales.
- Large glazed areas need to meet energy rules, which can shape the size of doors and rooflights.
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.
- 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.
Single-storey extensions: common questions
Do I need planning permission for a single-storey extension?
Often not in England, if the extension stays within permitted development limits: 3 m deep on an attached house or 4 m on a detached house, and no higher than 4 m. Larger ones need prior approval or a planning application. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
How long does a single-storey extension take to build?
The build itself usually takes 10 to 16 weeks once work starts on site. Design, approvals and ordering usually add 6 to 12 weeks before that.
Do you work in Bedfordshire?
Yes. Bedfordshire is within our coverage for single-storey extensions, along with nearby Luton and Bedford.
Single-storey extensions near Bedfordshire
- Single-storey extensions in Luton
- Single-storey extensions in Bedford
- Single-storey extensions in Dunstable
- Single-storey extensions in Leighton Buzzard
Learn more about single-storey extensions, or see every project we cover in Bedfordshire.