Two-storey extensions for detached houses in Canford Heath

Canford Heath: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts: BH11 and BH17
County / area: Dorset, England
Price region: South West England
Guide price: £88,500–£119,000 (£2,110–£2,830 per m²)
Approval route: Depends on position: a two-storey rear extension may be permitted development (3 m deep, 7 m from the rear boundary); a two-storey side extension needs planning permission.
Nearest towns: Broadstone (1.2 miles), Parkstone (1.8 miles), Wimborne Minster (2.3 miles)
Distance to Bournemouth: about 4.4 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a two-storey extension for a detached house

This service suits you if you own a detached house and want a substantial amount of extra space, whether a side extension over a drive, a rear extension into the garden or a wraparound. You get a survey of the whole plot, options that compare layouts and costs, the approvals your nation needs, structural design and the build, carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

We cover postcode districts BH11 and BH17 in and around Canford Heath, along with neighbouring Broadstone, Parkstone and Wimborne Minster.

What it costs in Canford Heath

For budgeting in Canford Heath, allow around £88,500–£119,000 for a two-storey extension for a detached house with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). That's based on £2,110–£2,830 per m² including VAT for South West England. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

Spec	Per m²	A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space)
Essential	£1,940–£2,610 per m²	£81,500–£109,500
Standard	£2,110–£2,830 per m²	£88,500–£119,000
Premium	£2,530–£3,400 per m²	£106,500–£143,000

Planning and building regulations in Canford Heath

In England, a two-storey rear extension on a detached house can be permitted development within 3 m of the original rear wall and at least 7 m from the rear boundary, with matching roof pitch and materials, outside protected areas. Any two-storey side or wraparound extension needs planning permission, costing £548 (or £575 for applications made from 8 December 2026), with a decision due within 8 weeks of validation.

Approval in England: Householder planning application: £548 (or £575 for applications made from 8 December 2026). Lawful development certificate: £274 (about £288 for applications from 8 December 2026). Councils should decide householder applications within 8 weeks of validation.

Building regulations: Building regulations approval (full plans recommended) from the council or a registered building control approver, with a completion certificate at the end.

Design points for Canford Heath homes

Choosing the best side

On a detached house you can often extend on either side or the rear. We look at orientation for daylight, where the stairs and landing are, the distance to each boundary, drains and trees, so the extension goes where it adds the most useful space.

Larger spans and steelwork

Bigger extensions often mean wider openings and longer spans, which need more steel and sometimes a steel frame. The engineer designs these early, because the size of the steel affects ceiling heights, floor depths and the cost.

How we'd run your project

Visit and first ideas
One of our team visits your house in Canford Heath, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Canford Heath.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
Build it
The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Questions about two-storey extensions for detached houses in Canford Heath

How much does a two-storey extension for a detached house cost in Canford Heath?

Our guide for South West England, which covers Canford Heath, is £2,110–£2,830 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) comes to about £88,500–£119,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Which postcodes do you cover around Canford Heath?

We cover Canford Heath (BH11 and BH17) and nearby places including Broadstone, Parkstone and Wimborne Minster, plus the rest of Dorset. The first site visit is free.

How long does a two-storey extension for a detached house take?

Allow 4 to 8 weeks for survey and design, then the approval period (councils should decide householder applications within 8 weeks of validation), then 4 to 8 weeks of technical design, which can overlap. The build itself usually takes 14 to 20 weeks, longer for large or complex designs.

How big an extension can a detached house take?

It depends on the plot, the boundaries and local design policy rather than a fixed limit. Under permitted development in England, extensions must not cover more than 50% of the land around the original house. With planning permission, the council judges size on proportion, neighbours and the character of the area.

Can I extend a detached house on both sides?

Sometimes. With planning permission, a council may accept extensions on both sides if the house stays well proportioned and keeps gaps to the boundaries. It is more common to extend on one side and the rear, or with a wraparound. We look at the plot as a whole before suggesting more than one extension.

Nearby

Close to Canford Heath? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Canford Heath

All two-storey extension services in Canford Heath · Two-storey extensions for detached houses across Dorset

Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Canford Heath.