West Drayton · Greater London

First-floor extensions in West Drayton

If you live in West Drayton and need more room without moving, a first-floor extension is worth a serious look. We handle the drawings, approvals, structure and build.

What we'd confirm first for a project in West Drayton.

Postcode districts
UB7
County / area
Greater London, England
Price region
London
Guide price
£30,000–£43,500 (£2,160–£3,120 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
Hayes (2.2 miles), Hillingdon (2.3 miles), Cranford (2.8 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 UB7 in and around West Drayton, along with neighbouring Hayes, Hillingdon and Cranford.

What it costs in West Drayton

For budgeting in West Drayton, allow around £30,000–£43,500 for a first-floor extension with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). That's based on £2,160–£3,120 per m² including VAT for London. 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£1,990–£2,870 per m²£28,000–£40,000
Standard£2,160–£3,120 per m²£30,000–£43,500
Premium£2,590–£3,740 per m²£36,500–£52,500

Planning and building regulations in West Drayton

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 West Drayton homes

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.

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

  1. Free site visit

    We visit your home in West Drayton, 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 West Drayton

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

West Drayton 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 West Drayton?

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 West Drayton?

Our guide for London, which covers West Drayton, is £2,160–£3,120 per m² including VAT. A typical project with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²) comes to about £30,000–£43,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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.

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

Nearby towns we cover for first-floor extensions:

Other extensions in West Drayton

All two-storey extension services in West Drayton · First-floor extensions across Greater London

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

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