Chislehurst · Greater London

Two-storey extensions for detached houses in Chislehurst

Want to stay in Chislehurst but need more space? A two-storey extension for a detached house adds floor area on two levels without giving up much garden. Here's what's involved.

Before you start in Chislehurst, here's what applies.

Postcode districts
BR7
County / area
Greater London, England
Price region
London
Guide price
£103,500–£138,500 (£2,460–£3,300 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
Bickley (1.5 miles), Sidcup (1.6 miles), Eltham (2.4 miles)
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a two-storey extension for a detached house

A two-storey extension for a detached house is a two-floor addition to the side, rear or both of a house that stands on its own plot. Detached houses often have room on more than one side, so there is more choice of layout and fewer shared-wall issues. The design still needs to respect boundaries, neighbours' windows and the look of the house.

We cover Chislehurst (BR7) and the places around it, including Bickley (1.5 miles), Sidcup (1.6 miles) and Eltham.

What it costs in Chislehurst

Expect a two-storey extension for a detached house in Chislehurst to land somewhere around £103,500–£138,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). Our London guide rate is £2,460–£3,300 per m², including VAT. We'll give you a written design-stage price first, then a fixed build price once the drawings are agreed.

SpecPer m²A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space)
Essential£2,260–£3,040 per m²£95,000–£127,500
Standard£2,460–£3,300 per m²£103,500–£138,500
Premium£2,950–£3,960 per m²£124,000–£166,500

Planning and building regulations in Chislehurst

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 Chislehurst homes

Keeping it subordinate

Large detached houses can take a large extension, but councils still expect it to look secondary to the main house. A lower ridge, a modest set-back at the front and matching materials keep the proportions right, even on a wide plot.

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

  1. Measure and listen

    A visit to Chislehurst to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.

  2. Get it approved

    Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Chislehurst and deal with any questions from the planning officer.

  3. Fixed price in writing

    With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.

  4. Build and hand over

    We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.

Questions about two-storey extensions for detached houses in Chislehurst

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 much does a two-storey extension for a detached house cost in Chislehurst?

Our guide for London, which covers Chislehurst, is £2,460–£3,300 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 £103,500–£138,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Chislehurst?

We handle it as part of the project. What's needed in England: building regulations approval (full plans recommended) from the council or a registered building control approver, with a completion certificate at the end. We prepare the drawings and the engineer's calculations, book the inspections and pass you the completion paperwork at the end.

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.

Is a detached house extension a better investment than moving?

It often costs less than the gap between your house and a larger one nearby, once property tax, legal fees and removal costs are counted, but that depends on your area. Extending also has limits: every street has a ceiling price. We give you build costs so you can compare them with local asking prices.

Nearby

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in Chislehurst

All two-storey extension services in Chislehurst · Two-storey extensions for detached houses across Greater London

Tell us about your house in Chislehurst and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.

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