Gainsborough · Lincolnshire

Part single, part two-storey extensions in Gainsborough

A part single, part two-storey extension is one of the most space-efficient ways to add bedrooms and living space to a house in Gainsborough, because the new floors share one set of foundations and one roof.

Gainsborough: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts
DN21
County / area
Lincolnshire, England
Price region
East Midlands
Guide price
£70,500–£97,000 (£1,960–£2,700 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
Retford (8.4 miles), Scunthorpe (14.3 miles), Lincoln (14.4 miles)
Distance to Lincoln
about 14.4 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.

Around Gainsborough we also work in Retford, Scunthorpe and Lincoln, and across the rest of Lincolnshire. Postcode district in and near Gainsborough: DN21.

What it costs in Gainsborough

Using our East Midlands rates, 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) comes to about £70,500–£97,000, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². 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£1,800–£2,480 per m²£65,000–£89,500
Standard£1,960–£2,700 per m²£70,500–£97,000
Premium£2,350–£3,230 per m²£84,500–£116,500

Planning and building regulations in Gainsborough

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 Gainsborough 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Measure and listen

    A visit to Gainsborough to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.

  2. Drawings, then consent

    We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.

  3. Engineer it

    Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.

  4. Finish and certify

    Second fix, plastering and making good, then building control's final inspection and the completion paperwork.

Questions about part single, part two-storey extensions in Gainsborough

Do I need planning permission for a part single, part two-storey extension in Gainsborough?

Gainsborough 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 Gainsborough?

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

Our guide for the East Midlands, which covers Gainsborough, is £1,960–£2,700 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 £70,500–£97,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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

Other towns near Gainsborough:

Other extensions in Gainsborough

All two-storey extension services in Gainsborough · Part single, part two-storey extensions across Lincolnshire

Book a free site visit in Gainsborough and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.

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