Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Soho
Adding a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Soho gives you two new rooms stacked on one footprint. Here's how we'd approach it, what it typically costs and the rules that apply in England.
The basics for Soho at a glance.
- Postcode districts
- W1, W1B, W1C, W1D, W1F, W1G and nearby districts
- 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
- St James's (0.5 miles), Holborn (0.7 miles), Westminster (1.2 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.
Around Soho we also work in St James's, Holborn and Westminster, and across the rest of Greater London. Postcode districts in and near Soho: W1, W1B, W1C, W1D, W1F, W1G and nearby districts.
What it costs in Soho
A guide price for Soho: around £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). That works out at £2,400–£3,240 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. We'll give you a written design-stage price first, then a fixed build price once the drawings are agreed.
| Spec | Per m² | A 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 Soho
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 Soho 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
Understand the brief
At your home in Soho we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Soho.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
Finish and certify
Second fix, plastering and making good, then building control's final inspection and the completion paperwork.
Questions about kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Soho
Which postcodes do you cover around Soho?
We cover Soho (W1, W1B, W1C, W1D, W1F, W1G and nearby districts) and nearby places including St James's, Holborn and Westminster, plus the rest of Greater London. The first site visit is free.
Do I need planning permission for a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Soho?
Soho 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 Soho?
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.
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
We also cover places near Soho, including:
Other extensions in Soho
All two-storey extension services in Soho · Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above across Greater London
The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Soho and give you an honest view of the options.