Dronfield · Derbyshire

Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Dronfield

If you live in Dronfield and need more room without moving, a kitchen extension with bedrooms above is worth a serious look. We handle the drawings, approvals, structure and build.

Before you start in Dronfield, here's what applies.

Postcode districts
S18
County / area
Derbyshire, England
Price region
East Midlands
Guide price
£55,000–£74,000 (£1,960–£2,650 per m²), kitchen units and worktops priced separately
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
Nether Edge (4 miles), Chesterfield (4.3 miles), Fulwood (4.5 miles)
Distance to Derby
about 26.2 miles
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a kitchen extension with bedrooms above

A kitchen extension with bedrooms above is a two-storey extension designed so the ground floor becomes a larger, usually open-plan kitchen and dining space, with one or two bedrooms or a bathroom on the first floor. It is a natural fit for a two-storey rear extension. The key design issues are the steel beams that open up the house, glazing and ventilation.

Dronfield sits about 26.2 miles from Derby. Closer to home, Nether Edge is 4.0 miles away and Chesterfield 4.3 miles.

What it costs in Dronfield

Guide prices for kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in the East Midlands are around £1,960–£2,650 per m² of new floor space, including VAT. For a typical project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space), that's roughly £55,000–£74,000 (kitchen units and worktops priced separately). These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.

SpecPer m²A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,800–£2,430 per m²£50,500–£68,000
Standard£1,960–£2,650 per m²£55,000–£74,000
Premium£2,350–£3,180 per m²£66,000–£89,000

Planning and building regulations in Dronfield

In England, a two-storey rear kitchen extension can be permitted development if it goes no more than 3 m beyond the rear wall of the original house and stays at least 7 m from the rear boundary, with matching materials and roof pitch, outside protected areas. No balconies are allowed. Deeper designs need 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 Dronfield homes

Services and drainage

Sinks, dishwashers and an upstairs bathroom all need waste routes to the drains, often near where the extension goes. We check the drains early and plan soil stacks, gas and electrical supplies so the kitchen layout is not limited later.

Steel beams and the open-plan opening

Removing the old rear wall to make one large room means a steel beam, sometimes several, to carry the first floor and roof. The engineer sizes the steel and its supports, and we decide early whether you want a flush ceiling with the beam hidden or a downstand, as this affects ceiling heights.

How we'd run your project

  1. Understand the brief

    At your home in Dronfield we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.

  2. Drawings, then consent

    We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.

  3. Price it properly

    Once the engineer's calculations are in, we fix the build price in writing, with a clear list of what's included.

  4. Build and hand over

    We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.

Questions about kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Dronfield

Do I need planning permission for a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Dronfield?

Dronfield 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 Dronfield?

We cover Dronfield (S18) and nearby places including Nether Edge, Chesterfield and Fulwood, plus the rest of Derbyshire. The first site visit is free.

How long does a kitchen extension with bedrooms above take?

Allow 4 to 8 weeks for survey and design, then the approval period (councils should decide householder applications within 8 weeks of validation), then 4 to 8 weeks of technical design, which can overlap. The build itself usually takes 14 to 20 weeks, longer for large or complex designs.

Is it cheaper to build a kitchen extension and bedrooms at the same time?

Yes, in most cases. Building both floors at once means one set of foundations, one roof, one scaffold and one set of approvals. Adding a first floor later means removing the original roof, possibly strengthening the foundations and disrupting the kitchen again. If you think you will need the bedroom, build it now.

Can I keep using my kitchen during the build?

For part of it. The new structure can be built while your existing kitchen stays in use, but when the rear wall is opened and the new kitchen is fitted there will be several weeks without one. We plan when this happens and help you set up a temporary kitchen elsewhere in the house.

Nearby

Close to Dronfield? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Dronfield

All two-storey extension services in Dronfield · Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above across Derbyshire

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

CallGuide price