Extensions over a garage in Hockley
For an extension over a garage in Hockley, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for the West Midlands.
Useful details for planning an extension over a garage in Hockley.
- Postcode districts
- B18, B19, B20, B21 and B42
- County / area
- West Midlands, England
- Price region
- West Midlands
- Guide price
- £31,500–£46,000 (£1,750–£2,550 per m²)
- Approval route
- Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
- Nearest towns
- Aston (1.4 miles), Birmingham (1.5 miles), Smethwick (2.2 miles)
- Distance to Birmingham
- about 1.5 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 districts B18, B19, B20, B21 and B42 in and around Hockley, along with neighbouring Aston, Birmingham and Smethwick.
What it costs in Hockley
For budgeting in Hockley, allow around £31,500–£46,000 for an extension over a garage with 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²). That's based on £1,750–£2,550 per m² including VAT for the West Midlands. 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 | 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,610–£2,350 per m² | £29,000–£42,000 |
| Standard | £1,750–£2,550 per m² | £31,500–£46,000 |
| Premium | £2,100–£3,060 per m² | £38,000–£55,000 |
Planning and building regulations in Hockley
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 Hockley homes
Floor levels and headroom
Garage floors are often lower than the house, and the new first floor may not line up with the existing landing. We set the floor level to avoid awkward steps upstairs, while keeping enough headroom in the garage below for a car or storage.
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
Understand the brief
At your home in Hockley we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
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 Hockley
Who handles building regulations for a project in Hockley?
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.
Do I need planning permission for an extension over a garage in Hockley?
Hockley 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 Hockley?
We cover Hockley (B18, B19, B20, B21 and B42) and nearby places including Aston, Birmingham and Smethwick, plus the rest of the West Midlands. The first site visit is free.
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.
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 Hockley
- Rear
- Side
- Wraparound
- Part two-storey
- First floor
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Hockley · Extensions over a garage across the West Midlands
Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.