Thame · Oxfordshire

Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Thame

Want to stay in Thame 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.

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

Postcode districts
OX9 and OX39
County / area
Oxfordshire, 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
Aylesbury (8.4 miles), Cowley (9.9 miles), Oxford (12 miles)
Distance to Oxford
about 12 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 OX9 and OX39 in and around Thame, along with neighbouring Aylesbury, Cowley and Oxford.

What it costs in Thame

A guide price for Thame: 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). That works out at £2,200–£2,970 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. 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£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 Thame

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 Thame 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.

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. Look at the house

    We start in Thame with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.

  2. Drawings, then consent

    We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.

  3. Technical design

    We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.

  4. Build and sign-off

    Vetted teams working under S&K build the extension, and we arrange the building control completion certificate at the end.

Questions about kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Thame

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

Thame 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.

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

Our guide for South East England, which covers Thame, is £2,200–£2,970 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 £61,500–£83,000 (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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Thame?

We cover Thame (OX9 and OX39) and nearby places including Aylesbury, Cowley and Oxford, plus the rest of Oxfordshire. 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

Nearby towns we cover for kitchen extensions with bedrooms above:

Other extensions in Thame

All two-storey extension services in Thame · Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above across Oxfordshire

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

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