Bexley · Greater London

Extensions over a garage in Bexley

Thinking about an extension over a garage in Bexley? We design it, take it through the approvals it needs and build it, with one team responsible from the first visit to the final certificate.

Quick reference for homeowners in Bexley.

Postcode districts
DA5, DA6 and DA7
County / area
Greater London, England
Price region
London
Guide price
£38,000–£55,000 (£2,100–£3,060 per m²)
Approval route
Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns
Sidcup (2.2 miles), Welling (2.3 miles), Dartford (2.8 miles)
First visit
Free, no obligation

About an extension over a garage

An extension over a garage is a new first-floor room built on top of an existing attached garage, usually a bedroom, en-suite or study. It uses a footprint you already have, so it adds floor space without taking any garden. The garage walls and foundations often need strengthening or replacing to carry the new floor.

We cover Bexley (DA5, DA6 and DA7) and the places around it, including Sidcup (2.2 miles), Welling (2.3 miles) and Dartford.

What it costs in Bexley

Guide prices for extensions over a garage in London are around £2,100–£3,060 per m² of new floor space, including VAT. For a typical project with 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²), that's roughly £38,000–£55,000. Design fees, structural calculations and approval fees are separate and listed on our prices page.

SpecPer m²3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²)
Essential£1,930–£2,820 per m²£35,000–£50,500
Standard£2,100–£3,060 per m²£38,000–£55,000
Premium£2,520–£3,670 per m²£45,500–£66,000

Planning and building regulations in Bexley

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 Bexley homes

Checking the garage foundations

Garages are often built on shallow strip footings sized for a single-storey wall and a light roof. A trial hole shows their depth and condition, and the engineer decides whether they can carry two storeys or need underpinning or new foundations inside the garage.

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. Look at the house

    We start in Bexley with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.

  2. Choose the approval route

    Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.

  3. 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.

  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 Bexley

How long does an extension over a garage 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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Bexley?

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 much does an extension over a garage cost in Bexley?

Our guide for London, which covers Bexley, is £2,100–£3,060 per m² including VAT. A typical project with 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²) comes to about £38,000–£55,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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.

Can I add an en-suite above the garage?

Yes, and it is a common choice for a main bedroom. The en-suite needs an extract fan under Part F, a route for the soil pipe down to the drains and enough fall for the waste, which can be harder over a garage. We plan the pipe route through the garage or an outside wall early.

Nearby

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in Bexley

All two-storey extension services in Bexley · Extensions over a garage across Greater London

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

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