First-floor extensions in Aberkenfig
Thinking about a first-floor extension in Aberkenfig? 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.
Quick reference for homeowners in Aberkenfig.
- Postcode districts
- CF32
- County / area
- Mid Glamorgan, Wales
- Price region
- Wales
- Guide price
- £23,000–£33,500 (£1,660–£2,390 per m²)
- Approval route
- It may be permitted development if the ground floor goes no more than 4 m and the first floor no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall, with the first floor 10.5 m from the rear boundary.
- Nearest towns
- Coity (2.1 miles), Bridgend (2.5 miles), Pencoed (4.3 miles)
- Distance to Rhondda
- about 10.4 miles
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
About a first-floor extension
A first-floor extension is a new upstairs room built on top of an existing single-storey part of your house, such as a rear kitchen extension, a utility or a side annexe. It adds a bedroom, bathroom or study without enlarging the footprint. Whether it works depends mainly on whether the walls and foundations below can carry the extra load.
Around Aberkenfig we also work in Coity, Bridgend and Pencoed, and across the rest of Mid Glamorgan. Postcode district in and near Aberkenfig: CF32.
What it costs in Aberkenfig
Expect a first-floor extension in Aberkenfig to land somewhere around £23,000–£33,500 for 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). Our Wales guide rate is £1,660–£2,390 per m², including VAT. The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.
| Spec | Per m² | 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,520–£2,200 per m² | £21,500–£31,000 |
| Standard | £1,660–£2,390 per m² | £23,000–£33,500 |
| Premium | £1,990–£2,870 per m² | £28,000–£40,000 |
Planning and building regulations in Aberkenfig
In Wales, a first floor over a rear extension can be permitted development if it goes no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall and stays at least 10.5 m from the rear boundary, with the ground floor within 4 m. Over a side extension, the 10.5 m, 1 m set-back and 50% width tests apply. Otherwise a householder application costs £585.
Approval in Wales: Householder planning application: £585. Councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks.
Building regulations: Building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency).
Design points for Aberkenfig homes
Can the existing structure take it?
Many single-storey extensions were built with foundations, walls and lintels sized for one storey. We find out what is there with trial holes and, where available, the original building control drawings. The engineer then decides whether to reuse, strengthen or rebuild parts of the structure.
Escape 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 450 mm high, with the bottom no more than 1,100 mm above the floor, unless there is a protected route to the stairs.
How we'd run your project
Free site visit
We visit your home in Aberkenfig, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Wales, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
On site
One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.
Questions about first-floor extensions in Aberkenfig
Do I need planning permission for a first-floor extension in Aberkenfig?
Aberkenfig is in Wales, so Wales planning rules apply. It may be permitted development if the ground floor goes no more than 4 m and the first floor no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall, with the first floor 10.5 m from the rear boundary. If in doubt, a lawful development certificate or a planning application gives you certainty before you build.
Which postcodes do you cover around Aberkenfig?
We cover Aberkenfig (CF32) and nearby places including Coity, Bridgend and Pencoed, plus the rest of Mid Glamorgan. The first site visit is free.
How long does a first-floor extension take?
Allow 4 to 8 weeks for survey and design, then the approval period (councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks), 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.
Can I build on top of my existing single-storey extension?
Often yes, but only after the structure has been checked. Foundations, walls and lintels built for one storey may not carry two. We dig trial holes, look for the original building control approval and ask the structural engineer to confirm what can stay, what needs strengthening and what must be rebuilt.
What happens to the room below while the first floor is built?
The old roof is removed, so the room below is exposed for a short period. We fit temporary weather protection, plan the work so the roof comes off only when the new structure is ready, and agree with you which rooms will be out of use and for roughly how long.
Nearby
Other towns near Aberkenfig:
Other extensions in Aberkenfig
- Rear
- Side
- Wraparound
- Part two-storey
- Over a garage
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Aberkenfig · First-floor extensions across Mid Glamorgan
Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Aberkenfig.