Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Thatcham
Adding a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Thatcham 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.
Thatcham: the key facts for this kind of project.
- Postcode districts
- RG18 and RG19
- 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
- Newbury (2.8 miles), Tadley (6.8 miles), Basingstoke (12.3 miles)
- Distance to Reading
- about 13 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.
Thatcham sits about 13.0 miles from Reading. Closer to home, Newbury is 2.8 miles away and Tadley 6.8 miles.
What it costs in Thatcham
Using our South East England rates, a kitchen extension with bedrooms above 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), including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.
| Spec | Per m² | A 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 Thatcham
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 Thatcham 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.
Steel beams and the open-plan opening
Removing the old rear wall to make one large room means a steel beam, sometimes several, to carry the first floor and roof. The engineer sizes the steel and its supports, and we decide early whether you want a flush ceiling with the beam hidden or a downstand, as this affects ceiling heights.
How we'd run your project
Free site visit
We visit your home in Thatcham, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
Plans, then approval
Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.
Structure and building control
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.
Build and hand over
We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.
Questions about kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Thatcham
Who handles building regulations for a project in Thatcham?
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.
Do I need planning permission for a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Thatcham?
Thatcham 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
Other towns near Thatcham:
Other extensions in Thatcham
All two-storey extension services in Thatcham · Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above across Berkshire
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