First-floor extensions in Barry

What we'd confirm first for a project in Barry.

Postcode districts: CF62 and CF63
County / area: Cardiff and the Vale of 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: Rhoose (3.1 miles), Dinas Powys (3.9 miles), Penarth (5.5 miles)
Distance to Cardiff: about 7.1 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a first-floor extension

A first-floor extension suits you if your house already has a single-storey extension and you need more space upstairs. You get a structural check of the existing walls and foundations, a design that ties the new floor into the house, the approvals your nation needs, building regulations approval and the build, managed by us and carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

We cover postcode districts CF62 and CF63 in and around Barry, along with neighbouring Rhoose, Dinas Powys and Penarth.

What it costs in Barry

Expect a first-floor extension in Barry 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 Barry

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 Barry 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.

Replacing the flat roof

The existing roof usually comes off and is replaced by a new first-floor structure. The room below is exposed for a short time, so we plan temporary weatherproofing and sequence the work to keep the kitchen or living room usable for as long as possible.

How we'd run your project

Understand the brief
At your home in Barry we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Design and approvals
We draw the extension and check it against the rules for Wales, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
Build and sign-off
Vetted teams working under S&K build the extension, and we arrange the building control completion certificate at the end.

Questions about first-floor extensions in Barry

Who handles building regulations for a project in Barry?

We handle it as part of the project. What's needed in Wales: building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency). We prepare the drawings and the engineer's calculations, book the inspections and pass you the completion paperwork at the end.

How much does a first-floor extension cost in Barry?

Our guide for Wales, which covers Barry, is £1,660–£2,390 per m² including VAT. A typical project with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²) comes to about £23,000–£33,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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.

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.

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.

Nearby

Close to Barry? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Barry

All two-storey extension services in Barry · First-floor extensions across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

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