Part single, part two-storey extensions in Greater London

Greater London at a glance

Nation: England
Price region: London
Postcode areas: BR, CR, DA, E, EC, EN, HA, IG, KT, N, NW, RM, SE, SM, SW, TN, TW, UB, W, WC
Towns covered: 215 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 Greater London we cover Brent (HA0), Islington (EC1V), Westminster (SW1), Bexley (DA5), Barking (E6) and Archway (N6), plus the smaller places around them.

Guide price in London

Most of the cost of a part single, part two-storey extension is set by its size and specification. For Greater London and the rest of London, our guide is £2,400–£3,300 per m² including VAT, so about £86,500–£119,000 for a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total). These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.

Spec	Per m²	Typical project
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

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

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 work in Greater London

Measure and listen
A visit to Greater London to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
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 Greater London

Part single, part two-storey extensions in Greater London: questions

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

In London our guide is £2,400–£3,300 per m² including VAT, so about £86,500–£119,000 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.

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.

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.

Will I need planning permission in Greater London?

Greater London 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 Greater London · About part single, part two-storey extensions