First-floor extensions in Belvedere

Belvedere: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts: DA17 and DA18
County / area: Greater London, England
Price region: London
Guide price: £30,000–£43,500 (£2,160–£3,120 per m²)
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: Erith (1.1 miles), Thamesmead (1.6 miles), Abbey Wood (1.9 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 Belvedere we also work in Erith, Thamesmead and Abbey Wood, and across the rest of Greater London. Postcode districts in and near Belvedere: DA17 and DA18.

What it costs in Belvedere

For budgeting in Belvedere, allow around £30,000–£43,500 for a first-floor extension with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). That's based on £2,160–£3,120 per m² including VAT for London. These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.

Spec	Per m²	4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²)
Essential	£1,990–£2,870 per m²	£28,000–£40,000
Standard	£2,160–£3,120 per m²	£30,000–£43,500
Premium	£2,590–£3,740 per m²	£36,500–£52,500

Planning and building regulations in Belvedere

In England, adding a first floor turns a single-storey extension into one of more than one storey. To be permitted development, the extension as a whole must go no more than 3 m beyond the rear wall of the original house and stay at least 7 m from the rear boundary, with matching materials and roof pitch. Over a side extension it always needs 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 Belvedere homes

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.

Matching the roofline

A first-floor extension often changes how the back or side of the house looks more than the original single storey did. Matching the main roof pitch and materials, and keeping the ridge below the main ridge, usually gives the best result and is expected for permitted development in England.

How we'd run your project

Look at the house
We start in Belvedere with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
Design and approvals
We draw the extension and check it against the rules for England, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.
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 Belvedere

Who handles building regulations for a project in Belvedere?

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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Belvedere?

We cover Belvedere (DA17 and DA18) and nearby places including Erith, Thamesmead and Abbey Wood, plus the rest of Greater London. The first site visit is free.

Do I need planning permission for a first-floor extension in Belvedere?

Belvedere 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.

Will the first-floor extension match my house?

It should, and in England matching materials and roof pitch is a condition of permitted development. We match brick, tile, mortar colour and window style where we can, and tell you at the design stage if an exact brick match is not available, so you can choose between the closest match and render or cladding.

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

Nearby towns we cover for first-floor extensions:

Other extensions in Belvedere

All two-storey extension services in Belvedere · First-floor extensions across Greater London

Want a figure first? Try our guide price tool, then book a free visit to firm it up.