Basildon · Essex

Extensions over a garage in Basildon

If you live in Basildon and need more room without moving, an extension over a garage is worth a serious look. We handle the drawings, approvals, structure and build.

The basics for Basildon at a glance.

Postcode districts
SS14, SS15 and SS16
County / area
Essex, England
Price region
East of England
Guide price
£32,500–£47,500 (£1,800–£2,630 per m²)
Approval route
Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns
Pitsea (2.2 miles), Stanford-le-Hope (3.3 miles), Wickford (4.1 miles)
Distance to Southend-on-Sea
about 11.2 miles
First visit
Free, no obligation

About an extension over a garage

An extension over a garage suits you if you have an attached single garage beside the house and need an extra bedroom or a larger main bedroom with an en-suite. You get an inspection of the garage structure, a design that matches the house, the approvals your nation needs, structural design, building regulations approval and the build, carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

Around Basildon we also work in Pitsea, Stanford-le-Hope and Wickford, and across the rest of Essex. Postcode districts in and near Basildon: SS14, SS15 and SS16.

What it costs in Basildon

In the East of England, which includes Basildon, we'd expect an extension over a garage to cost around £32,500–£47,500 for 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²), or £1,800–£2,630 per m² including VAT. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

SpecPer m²3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²)
Essential£1,660–£2,420 per m²£30,000–£43,500
Standard£1,800–£2,630 per m²£32,500–£47,500
Premium£2,160–£3,150 per m²£39,000–£56,500

Planning and building regulations in Basildon

In England, most garages sit beside the house, so building over one makes a two-storey extension beyond a side wall, which always needs planning permission. If the garage is at the rear, the 3 m and 7 m rules for two-storey rear extensions apply, measured from the original house. A householder application costs £548 (or £575 for applications made from 8 December 2026).

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 Basildon homes

Fire separation

If the garage stays a garage, the floor between it and the room above, and any door into the house, must give fire separation under building regulations. That usually means fire-resisting plasterboard ceilings, sealed gaps and a fire door, which we design in from the start.

Garage walls and the door opening

Garage walls are often a single skin of brick or block with piers, and the wide door opening needs a beam over it. Many over-garage extensions need new inner walls or a steel frame to carry the floor and to insulate properly, which we confirm before the design is fixed.

How we'd run your project

  1. Understand the brief

    At your home in Basildon we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.

  2. Plans, then approval

    Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.

  3. Technical design

    We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.

  4. Build

    Foundations, walls, floor, roof, windows, then first and second fix. We break through into the house as late as we can.

Questions about extensions over a garage in Basildon

Do I need planning permission for an extension over a garage in Basildon?

Basildon is in England, so England planning rules apply. Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side. If in doubt, a lawful development certificate or a planning application gives you certainty before you build.

Which postcodes do you cover around Basildon?

We cover Basildon (SS14, SS15 and SS16) and nearby places including Pitsea, Stanford-le-Hope and Wickford, plus the rest of Essex. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Basildon?

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.

How do I get into a room over the garage?

Usually through a new opening off the existing landing or a bedroom, so the stairs stay where they are. If the floor levels do not match, a step or two may be needed inside the new room. Where a landing opening is not practical, a new stair from a converted garage is an option.

Do I need to convert the garage as well?

No. You can keep the garage for parking or storage and build only the room above, as long as the floor between them and any door into the house meet fire separation rules. Converting the garage at the same time is often good value, because the walls and foundations may be upgraded anyway.

Nearby

We also cover places near Basildon, including:

Other extensions in Basildon

All two-storey extension services in Basildon · Extensions over a garage across Essex

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

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