Dundry · Bristol

First-floor extensions in Dundry

For a first-floor extension in Dundry, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for Bristol.

Useful details for planning a first-floor extension in Dundry.

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
Bishopsworth (1.4 miles), Chew Magna (2.6 miles), Whitchurch (Bristol) (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 Dundry, along with neighbouring Bishopsworth, Chew Magna and Whitchurch (Bristol).

What it costs in Dundry

For budgeting in Dundry, allow around £26,000–£37,500 for a first-floor extension with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). That's based on £1,850–£2,680 per m² including VAT for South West England. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

SpecPer m²4 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 Dundry

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 Dundry 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Free site visit

    We visit your home in Dundry, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.

  2. 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.

  3. Structure and building control

    A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.

  4. 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 Dundry

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

Dundry 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.

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

Our guide for South West England, which covers Dundry, 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Dundry?

We cover Dundry (BS13) and nearby places including Bishopsworth, Chew Magna and Whitchurch (Bristol), plus the rest of Bristol. The first site visit is free.

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 Dundry:

Other extensions in Dundry

All two-storey extension services in Dundry · First-floor extensions across Bristol

Tell us about your house in Dundry and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.

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