Extensions over a garage in Earls Court
Thinking about an extension over a garage in Earls Court? 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.
Before you start in Earls Court, here's what applies.
- Postcode districts
- SW5, W8 and W14
- 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
- Fulham (0.8 miles), Chelsea (1.3 miles), Shepherds Bush (1.4 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 Earls Court (SW5, W8 and W14) and the places around it, including Fulham (0.8 miles), Chelsea (1.3 miles) and Shepherds Bush.
What it costs in Earls Court
Using our London rates, an extension over a garage with 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²) comes to about £38,000–£55,000, 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.
| Spec | Per m² | 3 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 Earls Court
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 Earls Court homes
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.
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.
How we'd run your project
Start at your house
We come to your home in Earls Court, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Plans, then approval
Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.
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 extensions over a garage in Earls Court
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.
How much does an extension over a garage cost in Earls Court?
Our guide for London, which covers Earls Court, 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 planning permission for an extension over a garage in Earls Court?
Earls Court 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.
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 my garage take a room on top?
Sometimes, but it needs checking. Many garages are built on shallow footings with thin walls, designed only for a single storey. We dig a trial hole and inspect the walls, and the structural engineer decides whether to reuse them, strengthen them, underpin the footings or build new foundations inside the garage.
Nearby
We also cover places near Earls Court, including:
Other extensions in Earls Court
- Rear
- Side
- Wraparound
- Part two-storey
- First floor
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Earls Court · Extensions over a garage across Greater London
The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Earls Court and give you an honest view of the options.