Kendal · Cumbria

Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Kendal

For a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Kendal, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for Cumbria.

Quick reference for homeowners in Kendal.

Postcode districts
LA8 and LA9
County / area
Cumbria, England
Price region
North West England
Guide price
£53,000–£72,000 (£1,900–£2,560 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
Windermere (7.4 miles), Grange-over-Sands (12.1 miles), Ulverston (16.7 miles)
Distance to Carlisle
about 40 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.

We cover postcode districts LA8 and LA9 in and around Kendal, along with neighbouring Windermere, Grange-over-Sands and Ulverston.

What it costs in Kendal

In North West England, which includes Kendal, we'd expect a kitchen extension with bedrooms above to cost around £53,000–£72,000 (kitchen units and worktops priced separately) for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space), or £1,900–£2,560 per m² including VAT. Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.

SpecPer m²A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,750–£2,360 per m²£49,000–£66,000
Standard£1,900–£2,560 per m²£53,000–£72,000
Premium£2,280–£3,080 per m²£64,000–£86,000

Planning and building regulations in Kendal

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 Kendal 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Free site visit

    We visit your home in Kendal, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.

  2. Drawings and permission

    Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Kendal.

  3. Technical design

    We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.

  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 Kendal

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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Kendal?

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 Kendal?

Kendal 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.

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

Other towns near Kendal:

Other extensions in Kendal

All two-storey extension services in Kendal · Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above across Cumbria

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

CallGuide price