Part single, part two-storey extensions in Highbury

Quick reference for homeowners in Highbury.

Postcode districts: N5
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: Canonbury (0.6 miles), Islington (1 mile), Barnsbury (1 mile)
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 Highbury we also work in Canonbury, Islington and Barnsbury, and across the rest of Greater London. Postcode district in and near Highbury: N5.

What it costs in Highbury

Using our London 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 £86,500–£119,000, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². 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	£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 Highbury

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 Highbury 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

Understand the brief
At your home in Highbury 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 Highbury and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.
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 Highbury

Which postcodes do you cover around Highbury?

We cover Highbury (N5) and nearby places including Canonbury, Islington and Barnsbury, plus the rest of Greater London. The first site visit is free.

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

Highbury 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.

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

Our guide for London, which covers Highbury, 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.

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.

Nearby

We also cover places near Highbury, including:

Other extensions in Highbury

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

Tell us about your house in Highbury and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.