First-floor extensions in Blaenavon
Our first-floor extensions service in Blaenavon covers everything: measured survey, design, planning or permitted development checks, structural design, building control and the build itself.
The basics for Blaenavon at a glance.
- Postcode districts
- NP13
- County / area
- Gwent, 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
- Gilwern (3.5 miles), Abertillery (3.7 miles), Abergavenny (4.4 miles)
- Distance to Newport (Gwent)
- about 13.4 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 Blaenavon (NP13) and the places around it, including Gilwern (3.5 miles), Abertillery (3.7 miles) and Abergavenny.
What it costs in Blaenavon
In Wales, which includes Blaenavon, we'd expect a first-floor extension to cost around £23,000–£33,500 for 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²), or £1,660–£2,390 per m² including VAT. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.
| 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 Blaenavon
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 Blaenavon homes
Tying into the house
The new floor and walls must line up with the existing first floor, often through a new opening in the rear wall above the old one. Floor levels, the position of upstairs windows and the existing roof all affect where the opening can go, so we survey both floors carefully.
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
Understand the brief
At your home in Blaenavon 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.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.
Finish and certify
Second fix, plastering and making good, then building control's final inspection and the completion paperwork.
Questions about first-floor extensions in Blaenavon
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.
How much does a first-floor extension cost in Blaenavon?
Our guide for Wales, which covers Blaenavon, 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.
Which postcodes do you cover around Blaenavon?
We cover Blaenavon (NP13) and nearby places including Gilwern, Abertillery and Abergavenny, plus the rest of Gwent. The first site visit is free.
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
Nearby towns we cover for first-floor extensions:
Other extensions in Blaenavon
- 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 Blaenavon · First-floor extensions across Gwent
Book a free site visit in Blaenavon and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.