First-floor extensions in Heavitree

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

Postcode districts: EX1, EX3 and EX5
County / area: Devon, 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: Exeter (1.4 miles), Exmouth (8.2 miles), Dawlish (9.7 miles)
Distance to Plymouth: about 37.2 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 EX1, EX3 and EX5 in and around Heavitree, along with neighbouring Exeter, Exmouth and Dawlish.

What it costs in Heavitree

Expect a first-floor extension in Heavitree 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. We'll give you a written design-stage price first, then a fixed build price once the drawings are agreed.

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 Heavitree

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 Heavitree homes

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.

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

Start at your house
We come to your home in Heavitree, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Plans, then approval
Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
Build and hand over
We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.

Questions about first-floor extensions in Heavitree

Which postcodes do you cover around Heavitree?

We cover Heavitree (EX1, EX3 and EX5) and nearby places including Exeter, Exmouth and Dawlish, plus the rest of Devon. The first site visit is free.

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

Heavitree 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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Heavitree?

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.

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

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

Other extensions in Heavitree

All two-storey extension services in Heavitree · First-floor extensions across Devon

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