Part single, part two-storey extensions in Devon

Devon at a glance

Nation: England
Price region: South West England
Postcode areas: EX, PL, TQ
Towns covered: 22 listed below, plus surrounding villages
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.
Site visits: Free, no obligation

What a part single, part two-storey extension involves

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.

Across Devon we cover Plymouth (PL1), Exeter (EX2), Paignton (TQ3), Torquay (TQ1), Newton Abbot (TQ11) and Exmouth (EX8), plus the smaller places around them.

Guide price in South West England

Guide prices for part single, part two-storey extensions in South West England are around £2,060–£2,830 per m² of new floor space, including VAT. For a typical project with a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total), that's roughly £74,000–£102,000. 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	Typical project
Essential	£1,900–£2,610 per m²	£68,000–£94,000
Standard	£2,060–£2,830 per m²	£74,000–£102,000
Premium	£2,470–£3,400 per m²	£89,000–£122,500

Rules in England

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.

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies, so notices may be needed for work on or near a shared wall or boundary.

Getting the design right

The roof junction

Where the single-storey roof meets the two-storey wall you need a sound weathering detail, usually a lead or similar flashing, and enough height for roof lights or a lantern. We set the roof falls and the upstairs window sill heights together so they do not clash.

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 work in Devon

Visit and first ideas
One of our team visits your house in Devon, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.
Design and approvals
We draw the extension and check it against the rules for England, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.
Price it properly
Once the engineer's calculations are in, we fix the build price in writing, with a clear list of what's included.
Build it
The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Towns we cover in Devon

Part single, part two-storey extensions in Devon: questions

How much does a part single, part two-storey extension cost in Devon?

In South West England our guide is £2,060–£2,830 per m² including VAT, so about £74,000–£102,000 for a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total). Essential and Premium specs move that by roughly 8% down or 20% up.

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.

Which side should the two-storey part go on?

Usually the side furthest from the nearest neighbour's windows, so the single-storey part sits nearest them and keeps their light. Other factors are where the stairs land upstairs, which room needs the extra space and where drains run. We sketch options at the design stage and explain which is most likely to be approved.

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.

Will I need planning permission in Devon?

Devon is in England. 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.

Neighbouring areas

All extension services in Devon · About part single, part two-storey extensions