Keighley · West Yorkshire

First-floor extensions in Keighley

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

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

Postcode districts
BD21 and BD22
County / area
West Yorkshire, England
Price region
Yorkshire and the Humber
Guide price
£23,000–£33,500 (£1,660–£2,390 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
Bingley (3.1 miles), Cross Hills (4.1 miles), Baildon (5 miles)
Distance to Leeds
about 15.4 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 Keighley (BD21 and BD22) and the places around it, including Bingley (3.1 miles), Cross Hills (4.1 miles) and Baildon.

What it costs in Keighley

Our guide for Yorkshire and the Humber is £1,660–£2,390 per m² including VAT. On a project with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²), that puts a first-floor extension in Keighley at roughly £23,000–£33,500. The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.

SpecPer m²4 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 Keighley

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 Keighley 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.

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. Look at the house

    We start in Keighley with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.

  2. Get it approved

    Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Keighley and deal with any questions from the planning officer.

  3. Detail and price

    Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.

  4. 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 Keighley

Who handles building regulations for a project in Keighley?

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.

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

Our guide for Yorkshire and the Humber, which covers Keighley, 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.

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

Keighley 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.

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

We also cover places near Keighley, including:

Other extensions in Keighley

All two-storey extension services in Keighley · First-floor extensions across West Yorkshire

Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Keighley.

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