Extensions over a garage in Smethwick
Thinking about an extension over a garage in Smethwick? 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.
The basics for Smethwick at a glance.
- Postcode districts
- B17, B66 and B67
- 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
- West Bromwich (2.1 miles), Oldbury (2.1 miles), Hockley (2.2 miles)
- Distance to Birmingham
- about 2.9 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.
Smethwick sits about 2.9 miles from Birmingham. Closer to home, West Bromwich is 2.1 miles away and Oldbury 2.1 miles.
What it costs in Smethwick
For budgeting in Smethwick, 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. Design fees, structural calculations and approval fees are separate and listed on our prices page.
| 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 Smethwick
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 Smethwick 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.
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
Understand the brief
At your home in Smethwick 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 it
The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.
Questions about extensions over a garage in Smethwick
Who handles building regulations for a project in Smethwick?
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 Smethwick?
Smethwick 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 Smethwick?
We cover Smethwick (B17, B66 and B67) and nearby places including West Bromwich, Oldbury and Hockley, 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.
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
We also cover places near Smethwick, including:
Other extensions in Smethwick
- Rear
- Side
- Wraparound
- Part two-storey
- First floor
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Smethwick · Extensions over a garage across the West Midlands
Book a free site visit in Smethwick and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.