Two-storey extensions for detached houses in Thornhill

Quick reference for homeowners in Thornhill.

Postcode districts: CF3 and CF23
County / area: Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Price region: Wales
Guide price: £79,000–£106,500 (£1,890–£2,530 per m²)
Approval route: Depends on position: rear (3 m first floor, 10.5 m to the boundary) and some side extensions (10.5 m, 1 m set-back) can be permitted development in Wales.
Nearest towns: Rhiwbina (1.3 miles), Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) (2.4 miles), Caerphilly (2.5 miles)
Distance to Cardiff: about 4.3 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 CF3 and CF23 in and around Thornhill, along with neighbouring Rhiwbina, Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) and Caerphilly.

What it costs in Thornhill

Using our Wales 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 £79,000–£106,500, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.

Spec	Per m²	A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space)
Essential	£1,740–£2,330 per m²	£73,000–£98,000
Standard	£1,890–£2,530 per m²	£79,000–£106,500
Premium	£2,260–£3,040 per m²	£95,000–£127,500

Planning and building regulations in Thornhill

In Wales, detached houses are more likely to meet the permitted development tests for a two-storey side extension: 10.5 m to the boundary opposite the side wall, a 1 m set-back from the front and no more than 50% added width. Rear permitted development allows 4 m on the ground floor and 3 m on the first floor. Otherwise the fee is £585.

Approval in Wales: Householder planning application: £585. Councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks.

Building regulations: Building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency).

Design points for Thornhill homes

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.

Gaps to boundaries

Detached houses are often defined by the space around them. Keeping a gap to the side boundary at first floor maintains that character, helps planning and leaves access to the rear garden. In Wales the 10.5 m side distance decides whether permitted development applies.

How we'd run your project

Free site visit
We visit your home in Thornhill, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Wales before drawing in detail.
Price it properly
Once the engineer's calculations are in, we fix the build price in writing, with a clear list of what's included.
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 Thornhill

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 normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks), 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Thornhill?

We cover Thornhill (CF3 and CF23) and nearby places including Rhiwbina, Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) and Caerphilly, plus the rest of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The first site visit is free.

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

Our guide for Wales, which covers Thornhill, is £1,890–£2,530 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 £79,000–£106,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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

Close to Thornhill? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Thornhill

All two-storey extension services in Thornhill · Two-storey extensions for detached houses across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

Want a figure first? Try our guide price tool, then book a free visit to firm it up.