Covering Dunstable
Our coverage around Dunstable (LU6) also includes Luton, Leighton Buzzard and Harpenden.
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 included in a single-storey extension in Dunstable?
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.
- Measured survey and design drawings
- Planning or lawful development certificate where needed
- First-fix and second-fix electrics, plastering and making good
What will a single-storey extension cost?
What single-storey extensions typically cost. These are guide ranges; the written quote for your house replaces them.
| 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 Dunstable
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.
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 should I think about before starting?
- Drains under the footprint may need diverting or a build-over agreement with the water company.
- 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.
- We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
- 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.
Your questions answered
How much does a single-storey extension cost?
Most single-storey extensions cost about £2,600 to £4,000 per square metre including VAT, depending on specification, glazing and ground conditions. We give a fixed price in writing for the agreed specification after the survey.
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.
Can you visit a house in Dunstable to quote?
Yes. After a short call we arrange a site visit to measure up and agree what the design needs to do, then send a written price.
Other towns nearby
- Single-storey extensions in Luton
- Single-storey extensions in Leighton Buzzard
- Single-storey extensions in Harpenden
- Single-storey extensions in Berkhamsted
Learn more about single-storey extensions, or see every project we cover in Dunstable.