Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Knowle
If you live in Knowle 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.
Quick reference for homeowners in Knowle.
- Postcode districts
- B93
- County / area
- West Midlands, England
- Price region
- West Midlands
- Guide price
- £56,000–£75,500 (£2,000–£2,700 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
- Solihull (2.9 miles), Shirley (West Midlands) (4.1 miles), Acocks Green (5.8 miles)
- Distance to Birmingham
- about 9.8 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.
Around Knowle we also work in Solihull, Shirley (West Midlands) and Acocks Green, and across the rest of the West Midlands. Postcode district in and near Knowle: B93.
What it costs in Knowle
Our guide for the West Midlands is £2,000–£2,700 per m² including VAT. On a project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space), that puts a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Knowle at roughly £56,000–£75,500 (kitchen units and worktops priced separately). Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.
| Spec | Per m² | A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,840–£2,480 per m² | £51,500–£69,500 |
| Standard | £2,000–£2,700 per m² | £56,000–£75,500 |
| Premium | £2,400–£3,240 per m² | £67,000–£90,500 |
Planning and building regulations in Knowle
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 Knowle homes
Bedrooms over a kitchen
Bedrooms above need an escape window or a protected route to the stairs, plus good sound insulation from the kitchen below. We position the stairs, landing and bedroom doors so the new rooms connect naturally to the existing first floor.
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
Free site visit
We visit your home in Knowle, 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 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 Knowle
Do I need planning permission for a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Knowle?
Knowle 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.
Who handles building regulations for a project in Knowle?
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.
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.
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
Nearby towns we cover for kitchen extensions with bedrooms above:
Other extensions in Knowle
All two-storey extension services in Knowle · Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above across the West Midlands
Want a figure first? Try our guide price tool, then book a free visit to firm it up.