Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Henlow
Want to stay in Henlow but need more space? A kitchen extension with bedrooms above adds floor area on two levels without giving up much garden. Here's what's involved.
Quick reference for homeowners in Henlow.
- Postcode districts
- SG15, SG16 and SG17
- County / area
- Bedfordshire, England
- Price region
- East of England
- Guide price
- £57,500–£78,000 (£2,060–£2,780 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
- Biggleswade (4 miles), Letchworth Garden City (4.3 miles), Baldock (5.1 miles)
- Distance to Luton
- about 11.8 miles
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
About a kitchen extension with bedrooms above
This service suits you if your kitchen is too small and you also need another bedroom. Building both floors at once costs less than a single-storey kitchen extension now and a first floor later. You get a layout that works for cooking, eating and the garden, a bedroom plan that works upstairs, the approvals your nation needs and the build, carried out by vetted teams working under S&K. Kitchen units are priced separately.
We cover postcode districts SG15, SG16 and SG17 in and around Henlow, along with neighbouring Biggleswade, Letchworth Garden City and Baldock.
What it costs in Henlow
A guide price for Henlow: around £57,500–£78,000 (kitchen units and worktops priced separately) for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). That works out at £2,060–£2,780 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. Design fees, structural calculations and approval fees are separate and listed on our prices page.
| Spec | Per m² | A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,900–£2,560 per m² | £53,000–£71,500 |
| Standard | £2,060–£2,780 per m² | £57,500–£78,000 |
| Premium | £2,470–£3,340 per m² | £69,000–£93,500 |
Planning and building regulations in Henlow
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 Henlow homes
Glazing and the Part L 25% rule
In England, new windows, roof lights and glazed doors in an extension are normally limited to 25% of the extension's floor area plus the area of any windows or doors removed. Larger glazing is possible, but needs SAP or compensating calculations, so we plan the rear doors around this from the start.
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
Measure and listen
A visit to Henlow to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
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 kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Henlow
Who handles building regulations for a project in Henlow?
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 kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Henlow?
Henlow 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 Henlow?
We cover Henlow (SG15, SG16 and SG17) and nearby places including Biggleswade, Letchworth Garden City and Baldock, plus the rest of Bedfordshire. The first site visit is free.
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.
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.
Nearby
We also cover places near Henlow, including:
Other extensions in Henlow
All two-storey extension services in Henlow · Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above across Bedfordshire
Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.