First-floor extensions in Wigton

Quick reference for homeowners in Wigton.

Postcode districts: CA7
County / area: Cumbria, England
Price region: North West England
Guide price: £24,000–£34,500 (£1,710–£2,470 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: Denton Holme (9.7 miles), Carlisle (10.1 miles), Cockermouth (13.8 miles)
Distance to Carlisle: about 10.1 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 postcode district CA7 in and around Wigton, along with neighbouring Denton Holme, Carlisle and Cockermouth.

What it costs in Wigton

For budgeting in Wigton, allow around £24,000–£34,500 for a first-floor extension with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). That's based on £1,710–£2,470 per m² including VAT for North West England. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

Spec	Per m²	4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²)
Essential	£1,570–£2,270 per m²	£22,000–£32,000
Standard	£1,710–£2,470 per m²	£24,000–£34,500
Premium	£2,050–£2,960 per m²	£28,500–£41,500

Planning and building regulations in Wigton

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 Wigton 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.

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

Free site visit
We visit your home in Wigton, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
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.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
Build
Foundations, walls, floor, roof, windows, then first and second fix. We break through into the house as late as we can.

Questions about first-floor extensions in Wigton

Who handles building regulations for a project in Wigton?

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 Wigton?

Wigton 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.

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

Our guide for North West England, which covers Wigton, is £1,710–£2,470 per m² including VAT. A typical project with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²) comes to about £24,000–£34,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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.

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 Wigton? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Wigton

All two-storey extension services in Wigton · First-floor extensions across Cumbria

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