First-floor extensions in Whitchurch (Shropshire)

What we'd confirm first for a project in Whitchurch (Shropshire).

Postcode districts: SY13
County / area: Shropshire, England
Price region: West Midlands
Guide price: £25,000–£36,500 (£1,800–£2,600 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: Market Drayton (9.1 miles), Nantwich (9.8 miles), Crewe (13.5 miles)
Distance to Telford: about 22.3 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 SY13 in and around Whitchurch (Shropshire), along with neighbouring Market Drayton, Nantwich and Crewe.

What it costs in Whitchurch (Shropshire)

Expect a first-floor extension in Whitchurch (Shropshire) to land somewhere around £25,000–£36,500 for 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). Our West Midlands guide rate is £1,800–£2,600 per m², including VAT. Kitchens, bathroom fittings and flooring are priced separately so you can compare like with like.

Spec	Per m²	4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²)
Essential	£1,660–£2,390 per m²	£23,000–£33,500
Standard	£1,800–£2,600 per m²	£25,000–£36,500
Premium	£2,160–£3,120 per m²	£30,000–£43,500

Planning and building regulations in Whitchurch (Shropshire)

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 Whitchurch (Shropshire) 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

Free site visit
We visit your home in Whitchurch (Shropshire), look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Whitchurch (Shropshire) 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.
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 Whitchurch (Shropshire)

Do I need planning permission for a first-floor extension in Whitchurch (Shropshire)?

Whitchurch (Shropshire) 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 Whitchurch (Shropshire)?

We cover Whitchurch (Shropshire) (SY13) and nearby places including Market Drayton, Nantwich and Crewe, plus the rest of Shropshire. The first site visit is free.

How much does a first-floor extension cost in Whitchurch (Shropshire)?

Our guide for the West Midlands, which covers Whitchurch (Shropshire), is £1,800–£2,600 per m² including VAT. A typical project with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²) comes to about £25,000–£36,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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

Close to Whitchurch (Shropshire)? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Whitchurch (Shropshire)

All two-storey extension services in Whitchurch (Shropshire) · First-floor extensions across Shropshire

Book a free site visit in Whitchurch (Shropshire) and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.