Peterborough · Cambridgeshire

Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Peterborough

Want to stay in Peterborough 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.

Before you start in Peterborough, here's what applies.

Postcode districts
PE1, PE2, PE3, PE4 and PE5
County / area
Cambridgeshire, 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
Whittlesey (5.1 miles), Market Deeping (7.7 miles), Stamford (11.2 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 PE1, PE2, PE3, PE4 and PE5 in and around Peterborough, along with neighbouring Whittlesey, Market Deeping and Stamford.

What it costs in Peterborough

In the East of England, which includes Peterborough, we'd expect a kitchen extension with bedrooms above to cost 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), or £2,060–£2,780 per m² including VAT. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

SpecPer m²A 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 Peterborough

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 Peterborough 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. Visit and first ideas

    One of our team visits your house in Peterborough, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.

  2. Choose the approval route

    Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.

  3. Engineer it

    Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.

  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 Peterborough

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

Our guide for the East of England, which covers Peterborough, is £2,060–£2,780 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 £57,500–£78,000 (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 Peterborough?

Peterborough 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 Peterborough?

We cover Peterborough (PE1, PE2, PE3, PE4 and PE5) and nearby places including Whittlesey, Market Deeping and Stamford, plus the rest of Cambridgeshire. The first site visit is free.

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 Peterborough? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Peterborough

All two-storey extension services in Peterborough · Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above across Cambridgeshire

Tell us about your house in Peterborough and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.

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