Lower Earley · Berkshire

Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Lower Earley

Thinking about a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Lower Earley? We design it, take it through the approvals it needs and build it, with one team responsible from the first visit to the final certificate.

Quick reference for homeowners in Lower Earley.

Postcode districts
RG2, RG5 and RG6
County / area
Berkshire, England
Price region
South East England
Guide price
£61,500–£83,000 (£2,200–£2,970 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
Reading (3 miles), Wokingham (3.8 miles), Crowthorne (6.8 miles)
Distance to Reading
about 3 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 Lower Earley we also work in Reading, Wokingham and Crowthorne, and across the rest of Berkshire. Postcode districts in and near Lower Earley: RG2, RG5 and RG6.

What it costs in Lower Earley

Expect a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Lower Earley to land somewhere around £61,500–£83,000 (kitchen units and worktops priced separately) for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). Our South East England guide rate is £2,200–£2,970 per m², including VAT. The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.

SpecPer m²A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential£2,020–£2,730 per m²£56,500–£76,500
Standard£2,200–£2,970 per m²£61,500–£83,000
Premium£2,640–£3,560 per m²£74,000–£100,000

Planning and building regulations in Lower Earley

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 Lower Earley 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Measure and listen

    A visit to Lower Earley to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.

  2. Get it approved

    Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Lower Earley and deal with any questions from the planning officer.

  3. Detail and price

    Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.

  4. Build it

    The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Questions about kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Lower Earley

Which postcodes do you cover around Lower Earley?

We cover Lower Earley (RG2, RG5 and RG6) and nearby places including Reading, Wokingham and Crowthorne, plus the rest of Berkshire. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Lower Earley?

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

We also cover places near Lower Earley, including:

Other extensions in Lower Earley

All two-storey extension services in Lower Earley · Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above across Berkshire

The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Lower Earley and give you an honest view of the options.

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