Shepherds Bush · Greater London

Two-storey extensions for detached houses in Shepherds Bush

Homes in Shepherds Bush with a bit of space to the side or rear can often take a two-storey extension for a detached house. We'll tell you honestly whether yours can, and what approvals it needs.

The basics for Shepherds Bush at a glance.

Postcode districts
W6 and W12
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
Notting Hill (0.8 miles), Earls Court (1.4 miles), Bayswater (1.6 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 postcode districts W6 and W12 in and around Shepherds Bush, along with neighbouring Notting Hill, Earls Court and Bayswater.

What it costs in Shepherds Bush

Using our London rates, a two-storey extension for a detached house with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) comes to about £103,500–£138,500, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.

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 Shepherds Bush

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 Shepherds Bush 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

  1. Free site visit

    We visit your home in Shepherds Bush, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.

  2. Drawings and permission

    Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Shepherds Bush.

  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 sign-off

    Vetted teams working under S&K build the extension, and we arrange the building control completion certificate at the end.

Questions about two-storey extensions for detached houses in Shepherds Bush

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.

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey extension for a detached house in Shepherds Bush?

Shepherds Bush is in England, so England planning rules apply. 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. If in doubt, a lawful development certificate or a planning application gives you certainty before you build.

Which postcodes do you cover around Shepherds Bush?

We cover Shepherds Bush (W6 and W12) and nearby places including Notting Hill, Earls Court and Bayswater, plus the rest of Greater London. The first site visit is free.

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.

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.

Nearby

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in Shepherds Bush

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

Book a free site visit in Shepherds Bush and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.

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