Forest Hill · Greater London

Part single, part two-storey extensions in Forest Hill

For a part single, part two-storey extension in Forest Hill, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for Greater London.

What we'd confirm first for a project in Forest Hill.

Postcode districts
SE23
County / area
Greater London, England
Price region
London
Guide price
£86,500–£119,000 (£2,400–£3,300 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
Crofton Park (0.5 miles), Lewisham (0.9 miles), Catford (0.9 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 Forest Hill (SE23) and the places around it, including Crofton Park (0.5 miles), Lewisham (0.9 miles) and Catford.

What it costs in Forest Hill

For budgeting in Forest Hill, allow around £86,500–£119,000 for a part single, part two-storey extension with a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total). That's based on £2,400–£3,300 per m² including VAT for London. Kitchens, bathroom fittings and flooring are priced separately so you can compare like with like.

SpecPer m²A 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total)
Essential£2,210–£3,040 per m²£79,500–£109,500
Standard£2,400–£3,300 per m²£86,500–£119,000
Premium£2,880–£3,960 per m²£103,500–£142,500

Planning and building regulations in Forest Hill

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 Forest Hill homes

Light into the kitchen

The single-storey part is the place for roof lights or a lantern, which bring daylight deep into the plan. In England, glazing is normally limited to 25% of the new floor area plus any windows removed, unless calculations show the house still performs, so we plan the balance early.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Look at the house

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

  2. Get it approved

    Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Forest Hill and deal with any questions from the planning officer.

  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 part single, part two-storey extensions in Forest Hill

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

Our guide for London, which covers Forest Hill, is £2,400–£3,300 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 £86,500–£119,000. 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Forest Hill?

We cover Forest Hill (SE23) and nearby places including Crofton Park, Lewisham and Catford, plus the rest of Greater London. The first site visit is free.

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.

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.

Nearby

Nearby towns we cover for part single, part two-storey extensions:

Other extensions in Forest Hill

All two-storey extension services in Forest Hill · Part single, part two-storey extensions across Greater London

The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Forest Hill and give you an honest view of the options.

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