First-floor extensions in Nottingham

Nottingham: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts: NG1 and NG3
County / area: Nottinghamshire, England
Price region: East Midlands
Guide price: £24,500–£35,500 (£1,760–£2,550 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: Basford (1.6 miles), West Bridgford (1.9 miles), Arnold (3.3 miles)
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a first-floor extension

A first-floor extension is a new upstairs room built on top of an existing single-storey part of your house, such as a rear kitchen extension, a utility or a side annexe. It adds a bedroom, bathroom or study without enlarging the footprint. Whether it works depends mainly on whether the walls and foundations below can carry the extra load.

We cover Nottingham (NG1 and NG3) and the places around it, including Basford (1.6 miles), West Bridgford (1.9 miles) and Arnold.

What it costs in Nottingham

Expect a first-floor extension in Nottingham to land somewhere around £24,500–£35,500 for 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). Our East Midlands guide rate is £1,760–£2,550 per m², including VAT. These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.

Spec	Per m²	4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²)
Essential	£1,620–£2,340 per m²	£22,500–£33,000
Standard	£1,760–£2,550 per m²	£24,500–£35,500
Premium	£2,120–£3,060 per m²	£29,500–£43,000

Planning and building regulations in Nottingham

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 Nottingham 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.

Replacing the flat roof

The existing roof usually comes off and is replaced by a new first-floor structure. The room below is exposed for a short time, so we plan temporary weatherproofing and sequence the work to keep the kitchen or living room usable for as long as possible.

How we'd run your project

Visit and first ideas
One of our team visits your house in Nottingham, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Nottingham and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.
On site
One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

Questions about first-floor extensions in Nottingham

Who handles building regulations for a project in Nottingham?

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.

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

Nottingham 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Nottingham?

We cover Nottingham (NG1 and NG3) and nearby places including Basford, West Bridgford and Arnold, plus the rest of Nottinghamshire. 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.

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.

Nearby

Other towns near Nottingham:

Other extensions in Nottingham

All two-storey extension services in Nottingham · First-floor extensions across Nottinghamshire

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