Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Westminster
Want to stay in Westminster 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 Westminster.
- Postcode districts
- SW1, SW1A, SW1E, SW1H, SW1P and SW1X
- 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
- Pimlico (0.6 miles), St James's (0.7 miles), Soho (1.2 miles)
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
About a kitchen extension with bedrooms above
This service suits you if your kitchen is too small and you also need another bedroom. Building both floors at once costs less than a single-storey kitchen extension now and a first floor later. You get a layout that works for cooking, eating and the garden, a bedroom plan that works upstairs, the approvals your nation needs and the build, carried out by vetted teams working under S&K. Kitchen units are priced separately.
Around Westminster we also work in Pimlico, St James's and Soho, and across the rest of Greater London. Postcode districts in and near Westminster: SW1, SW1A, SW1E, SW1H, SW1P and SW1X.
What it costs in Westminster
Most of the cost of a kitchen extension with bedrooms above is set by its size and specification. For Westminster 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). The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.
| 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 Westminster
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 Westminster homes
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.
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
Start at your house
We come to your home in Westminster, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
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 Westminster
Do I need planning permission for a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Westminster?
Westminster 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 Westminster?
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.
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 Westminster? We work across the area, including:
Other extensions in Westminster
All two-storey extension services in Westminster · Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above across Greater London
Tell us about your house in Westminster and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.