Norbury · Greater London

Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Norbury

Homes in Norbury with a bit of space to the side or rear can often take a kitchen extension with bedrooms above. We'll tell you honestly whether yours can, and what approvals it needs.

What we'd confirm first for a project in Norbury.

Postcode districts
SW16
County / area
Greater London, England
Price region
London
Guide price
£67,000–£90,500 (£2,400–£3,240 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
Upper Norwood (1 mile), Streatham (1.1 miles), Gipsy Hill (1.3 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.

We cover Norbury (SW16) and the places around it, including Upper Norwood (1.0 miles), Streatham (1.1 miles) and Gipsy Hill.

What it costs in Norbury

Most of the cost of a kitchen extension with bedrooms above is set by its size and specification. For Norbury and the rest of London, our guide is £2,400–£3,240 per m² including VAT, so about £67,000–£90,500 (kitchen units and worktops priced separately) for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). 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£2,210–£2,980 per m²£62,000–£83,500
Standard£2,400–£3,240 per m²£67,000–£90,500
Premium£2,880–£3,890 per m²£80,500–£109,000

Planning and building regulations in Norbury

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 Norbury 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Measure and listen

    A visit to Norbury 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 Norbury 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

    Foundations, walls, floor, roof, windows, then first and second fix. We break through into the house as late as we can.

Questions about kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Norbury

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.

How much does a kitchen extension with bedrooms above cost in Norbury?

Our guide for London, which covers Norbury, is £2,400–£3,240 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) comes to about £67,000–£90,500 (kitchen units and worktops priced separately). Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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

Norbury 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.

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 Norbury? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Norbury

All two-storey extension services in Norbury · Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above across Greater London

Want a figure first? Try our guide price tool, then book a free visit to firm it up.

CallGuide price