First-floor extensions in Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan)

Before you start in Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan), here's what applies.

Postcode districts: CF14
County / area: Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Price region: Wales
Guide price: £23,000–£33,500 (£1,660–£2,390 per m²)
Approval route: It may be permitted development if the ground floor goes no more than 4 m and the first floor no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall, with the first floor 10.5 m from the rear boundary.
Nearest towns: Rhiwbina (1.2 miles), Llandaff (1.3 miles), Thornhill (2.4 miles)
Distance to Cardiff: about 2.8 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.

Around Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) we also work in Rhiwbina, Llandaff and Thornhill, and across the rest of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Postcode district in and near Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan): CF14.

What it costs in Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan)

Guide prices for first-floor extensions in Wales are around £1,660–£2,390 per m² of new floor space, including VAT. For a typical project with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²), that's roughly £23,000–£33,500. 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	£1,520–£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 Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan)

In Wales, a first floor over a rear extension can be permitted development if it goes no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall and stays at least 10.5 m from the rear boundary, with the ground floor within 4 m. Over a side extension, the 10.5 m, 1 m set-back and 50% width tests apply. Otherwise a householder application costs £585.

Approval in Wales: Householder planning application: £585. Councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks.

Building regulations: Building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency).

Design points for Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) homes

Escape and fire safety

A new first-floor bedroom needs an escape window with a clear opening of at least 0.33 m², at least 450 mm wide and 450 mm high, with the bottom no more than 1,100 mm above the floor, unless there is a protected route to the stairs.

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

Understand the brief
At your home in Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan).
Technical design
We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.
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 Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan)

Do I need planning permission for a first-floor extension in Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan)?

Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) is in Wales, so Wales planning rules apply. It may be permitted development if the ground floor goes no more than 4 m and the first floor no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall, with the first floor 10.5 m from the rear boundary. 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 Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan)?

We handle it as part of the project. What's needed in Wales: building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency). We prepare the drawings and the engineer's calculations, book the inspections and pass you the completion paperwork at the end.

Which postcodes do you cover around Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan)?

We cover Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) (CF14) and nearby places including Rhiwbina, Llandaff and Thornhill, plus the rest of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. 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.

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 (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan)? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan)

All two-storey extension services in Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) · First-floor extensions across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.