Downham Market · Norfolk

Extra bedroom and en-suite extensions in Downham Market

Want to stay in Downham Market but need more space? An extra bedroom and en-suite extension adds floor area on two levels without giving up much garden. Here's what's involved.

Downham Market: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts
PE33 and PE38
County / area
Norfolk, England
Price region
East of England
Guide price
£57,500–£78,000 (£2,060–£2,780 per m²), plus £5,500–£11,000 for the en-suite
Approval route
It may be permitted development if it goes no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall (counting any single-storey part) and stays 7 m from the rear boundary; otherwise it needs planning permission.
Nearest towns
King's Lynn (10 miles), Wisbech (10.3 miles), March (13 miles)
Distance to Norwich
about 38.4 miles
First visit
Free, no obligation

About an extra bedroom and en-suite extension

An extra bedroom and en-suite extension is a two-storey extension planned around a new double bedroom with its own shower room on the first floor, with a ground-floor room below. It is one of the most effective ways to add space for a growing family. Nationwide's 2025 research linked adding a double bedroom and bathroom to a three-bed, one-bathroom house with value gains of up to 24%.

We cover Downham Market (PE33 and PE38) and the places around it, including King's Lynn (10.0 miles), Wisbech (10.3 miles) and March.

What it costs in Downham Market

Our guide for the East of England is £2,060–£2,780 per m² including VAT. On a project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space), that puts an extra bedroom and en-suite extension in Downham Market at roughly £57,500–£78,000 (plus £5,500–£11,000 for the en-suite). The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.

SpecPer m²A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,900–£2,560 per m²£53,000–£71,500
Standard£2,060–£2,780 per m²£57,500–£78,000
Premium£2,470–£3,340 per m²£69,000–£93,500

Planning and building regulations in Downham Market

In England, an extra bedroom extension at the rear can be permitted development if it goes no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall and stays 7 m from the rear boundary. Upper side windows, including en-suite windows, must be obscure-glazed and non-opening below 1.7 m. Side or deeper designs need planning permission, costing £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 Downham Market homes

Connecting to the landing

The new bedroom must be reached from the existing landing, usually through a new opening in the outside wall or by taking part of an existing bedroom as a corridor. We look at the stairs and landing first, because a poor connection can waste much of the new space.

Sound and privacy

Bedrooms above a kitchen or family room benefit from an insulated floor to reduce noise. Side-facing upstairs windows usually have to be obscure-glazed, so we place the main bedroom window to the rear and the en-suite window to the side where possible.

How we'd run your project

  1. Visit and first ideas

    One of our team visits your house in Downham Market, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.

  2. Drawings and permission

    Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Downham Market.

  3. Technical design

    We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.

  4. On site

    One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

Questions about extra bedroom and en-suite extensions in Downham Market

How long does an extra bedroom and en-suite extension 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Downham Market?

We cover Downham Market (PE33 and PE38) and nearby places including King's Lynn, Wisbech and March, plus the rest of Norfolk. The first site visit is free.

How much does an extra bedroom and en-suite extension cost in Downham Market?

Our guide for the East of England, which covers Downham Market, is £2,060–£2,780 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) comes to about £57,500–£78,000 (plus £5,500–£11,000 for the en-suite). Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

What goes on the ground floor below a new bedroom?

Whatever suits you: a bigger kitchen, a family room, a study, a utility or a downstairs shower room. The ground floor usually costs about the same whatever it is used for, apart from kitchen units and bathroom fittings, which are priced separately.

How big should a new double bedroom be?

There is no legal minimum size for a bedroom in a house you own, so the test is whether it works. A comfortable double needs room for the bed with space to walk round it, wardrobes and a door that opens freely. We draw furniture on the plans so you can judge the space before anything is built.

Nearby

Nearby towns we cover for extra bedroom and en-suite extensions:

Other extensions in Downham Market

All two-storey extension services in Downham Market · Extra bedroom and en-suite extensions across Norfolk

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

CallGuide price