Erith · Greater London

Extensions over a garage in Erith

For an extension over a garage in Erith, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for Greater London.

The basics for Erith at a glance.

Postcode districts
DA8
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
Belvedere (1.2 miles), Rainham (2.5 miles), Thamesmead (2.8 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.

We cover postcode district DA8 in and around Erith, along with neighbouring Belvedere, Rainham and Thamesmead.

What it costs in Erith

Expect an extension over a garage in Erith to land somewhere around £38,000–£55,000 for 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²). Our London guide rate is £2,100–£3,060 per m², including VAT. Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.

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 Erith

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 Erith 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Measure and listen

    A visit to Erith to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.

  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. Fixed price in writing

    With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.

  4. Finish and certify

    Second fix, plastering and making good, then building control's final inspection and the completion paperwork.

Questions about extensions over a garage in Erith

Which postcodes do you cover around Erith?

We cover Erith (DA8) and nearby places including Belvedere, Rainham and Thamesmead, plus the rest of Greater London. The first site visit is free.

How much does an extension over a garage cost in Erith?

Our guide for London, which covers Erith, 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 Erith?

Erith 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.

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.

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.

Nearby

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

Other extensions in Erith

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

The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Erith and give you an honest view of the options.

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