Part single, part two-storey extensions in Chester
Want to stay in Chester but need more space? A part single, part two-storey extension adds floor area on two levels without giving up much garden. Here's what's involved.
Before you start in Chester, here's what applies.
- Postcode districts
- CH2 and CH3
- County / area
- Cheshire, England
- Price region
- North West England
- Guide price
- £68,500–£94,000 (£1,900–£2,610 per m²)
- 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
- Blacon (1.9 miles), Ellesmere Port (6.1 miles), Neston (Cheshire) (9.2 miles)
- Distance to Warrington
- about 19 miles
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
About a part single, part two-storey extension
A part single, part two-storey extension suits you if you want a generous ground floor but only need one extra room upstairs, or if a full two-storey design would affect a neighbour too much. You get design options that test where the two-storey part works best, the approvals your nation needs, structural design, building regulations approval and the build, carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.
We cover postcode districts CH2 and CH3 in and around Chester, along with neighbouring Blacon, Ellesmere Port and Neston (Cheshire).
What it costs in Chester
A guide price for Chester: around £68,500–£94,000 for a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total). That works out at £1,900–£2,610 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.
| Spec | Per m² | A 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,750–£2,400 per m² | £63,000–£86,500 |
| Standard | £1,900–£2,610 per m² | £68,500–£94,000 |
| Premium | £2,280–£3,130 per m² | £82,000–£113,000 |
Planning and building regulations in Chester
In England, the extension can only be permitted development if it goes no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall and stays at least 7 m from the rear boundary, with matching materials and roof pitch. We check the whole design against the rules, including the 50% garden coverage limit. If any part fails, or extends beyond a side wall on two floors, you 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 Chester homes
Structure at the step
The first-floor wall above often sits over the new open-plan space, so it needs a steel beam or frame to carry it. Loads come down at different points than in a full two-storey design, and the engineer sizes the foundations to suit each part.
Where to put the two-storey part
The two-storey section usually works best away from the closest neighbour, with the single-storey part on that boundary side. We test a few positions against neighbours' windows, the upstairs layout and the roof shape before choosing the one to take forward.
How we'd run your project
Understand the brief
At your home in Chester we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Chester and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Technical design
We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.
Build and hand over
We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.
Questions about part single, part two-storey extensions in Chester
Which postcodes do you cover around Chester?
We cover Chester (CH2 and CH3) and nearby places including Blacon, Ellesmere Port and Neston (Cheshire), plus the rest of Cheshire. The first site visit is free.
How much does a part single, part two-storey extension cost in Chester?
Our guide for North West England, which covers Chester, is £1,900–£2,610 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total) comes to about £68,500–£94,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.
How long does a part single, part two-storey extension 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.
Can the single-storey part be deeper than the two-storey part?
With planning permission, yes, and that is often the point of the design: the ground floor projects further into the garden while the first floor stays back from neighbours. Under permitted development, the depth limits for extensions of more than one storey can apply to the whole extension, so we confirm which route applies before drawings are finalised.
Can I add roof lights to the single-storey part?
Yes. Roof lights or a lantern over the single-storey part are one of the main reasons to choose this design, as they light the middle of a deep kitchen. In England they count towards the Part L glazing allowance, normally 25% of the new floor area plus windows removed, so we balance them with the rear doors.
Nearby
Nearby towns we cover for part single, part two-storey extensions:
Other extensions in Chester
- Rear
- Side
- Wraparound
- Over a garage
- First floor
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Chester · Part single, part two-storey extensions across Cheshire
Book a free site visit in Chester and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.