First-floor extensions in Chew Magna
If you live in Chew Magna and need more room without moving, a first-floor extension is worth a serious look. We handle the drawings, approvals, structure and build.
Chew Magna: the key facts for this kind of project.
- Postcode districts
- BS13
- County / area
- Bristol, England
- Price region
- South West England
- Guide price
- £26,000–£37,500 (£1,850–£2,680 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
- Dundry (2.6 miles), Publow (3 miles), Bishopsworth (3.4 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 postcode district BS13 in and around Chew Magna, along with neighbouring Dundry, Publow and Bishopsworth.
What it costs in Chew Magna
Expect a first-floor extension in Chew Magna to land somewhere around £26,000–£37,500 for 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). Our South West England guide rate is £1,850–£2,680 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 | £1,710–£2,460 per m² | £24,000–£34,500 |
| Standard | £1,850–£2,680 per m² | £26,000–£37,500 |
| Premium | £2,220–£3,210 per m² | £31,000–£45,000 |
Planning and building regulations in Chew Magna
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 Chew Magna 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.
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.
How we'd run your project
Free site visit
We visit your home in Chew Magna, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.
Structure and building control
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.
Build it
The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.
Questions about first-floor extensions in Chew Magna
How much does a first-floor extension cost in Chew Magna?
Our guide for South West England, which covers Chew Magna, is £1,850–£2,680 per m² including VAT. A typical project with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²) comes to about £26,000–£37,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.
Who handles building regulations for a project in Chew Magna?
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 Chew Magna?
We cover Chew Magna (BS13) and nearby places including Dundry, Publow and Bishopsworth, plus the rest of Bristol. The first site visit is free.
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
Other towns near Chew Magna:
Other extensions in Chew Magna
- 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 Chew Magna · First-floor extensions across Bristol
Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.