Extra bedroom and en-suite extensions in Rochester

Useful details for planning an extra bedroom and en-suite extension in Rochester.

Postcode districts: ME1
County / area: Kent, England
Price region: South East England
Guide price: £61,500–£83,000 (£2,200–£2,970 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: Chatham (1.1 miles), Strood (1.3 miles), Gillingham (1.9 miles)
Distance to Maidstone: about 8.4 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About an extra bedroom and en-suite extension

This service suits you if you need another bedroom, or want a main bedroom with its own bathroom, without converting the loft or moving. You get a first-floor layout that connects well to your landing, an en-suite designed for plumbing and ventilation, a useful room downstairs, the approvals your nation needs and the build, managed by us and carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

We cover Rochester (ME1) and the places around it, including Chatham (1.1 miles), Strood (1.3 miles) and Gillingham.

What it costs in Rochester

Our guide for South East England is £2,200–£2,970 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 Rochester at roughly £61,500–£83,000 (plus £5,500–£11,000 for the en-suite). We'll give you a written design-stage price first, then a fixed build price once the drawings are agreed.

Spec	Per m²	A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential	£2,020–£2,730 per m²	£56,500–£76,500
Standard	£2,200–£2,970 per m²	£61,500–£83,000
Premium	£2,640–£3,560 per m²	£74,000–£100,000

Planning and building regulations in Rochester

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 Rochester homes

Escape window and fire safety

A new first-floor bedroom needs an escape window with a clear opening of at least 0.33 m², at least 450 mm wide and high, and the bottom no more than 1,100 mm above the floor, unless there is a protected route to the stairs. We design the windows to meet this.

Planning the en-suite

An en-suite needs a route for the soil pipe to the drains, enough fall for waste water and an extract fan to the outside under Part F. Placing it over the ground-floor utility or near an existing drain keeps pipework short and hidden.

How we'd run your project

Measure and listen
A visit to Rochester to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Rochester.
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 it
The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Questions about extra bedroom and en-suite extensions in Rochester

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.

Do I need planning permission for an extra bedroom and en-suite extension in Rochester?

Rochester is in England, so England planning rules apply. 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. If in doubt, a lawful development certificate or a planning application gives you certainty before you build.

Which postcodes do you cover around Rochester?

We cover Rochester (ME1) and nearby places including Chatham, Strood and Gillingham, plus the rest of Kent. The first site visit is free.

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.

Can an en-suite go in a room with no window?

Yes. A shower room without a window is allowed, provided it has a mechanical extract fan to the outside that meets Part F. Many people prefer a window for daylight, but if it faces a neighbour it will usually need obscure glass. We plan the extract route early so the duct is hidden.

Nearby

Other towns near Rochester:

Other extensions in Rochester

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Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Rochester.