Part single, part two-storey extensions in Hitchin

Before you start in Hitchin, here's what applies.

Postcode districts: SG4 and SG5
County / area: Hertfordshire, England
Price region: East of England
Guide price: £74,000–£102,000 (£2,060–£2,830 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: Letchworth Garden City (3.2 miles), Stevenage (4.8 miles), Baldock (4.9 miles)
Distance to Watford: about 20.9 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a part single, part two-storey extension

A part single, part two-storey extension is an extension where the ground floor is wider or deeper than the floor above, so only part of it rises to two storeys. It usually gives a large kitchen or living area with roof lights below and one bedroom or bathroom above. It is often a good way to add space while limiting the effect on neighbours.

We cover postcode districts SG4 and SG5 in and around Hitchin, along with neighbouring Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage and Baldock.

What it costs in Hitchin

Our guide for the East of England is £2,060–£2,830 per m² including VAT. On a project with a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total), that puts a part single, part two-storey extension in Hitchin at roughly £74,000–£102,000. These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.

Spec	Per m²	A 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total)
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

Planning and building regulations in Hitchin

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 Hitchin 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

Measure and listen
A visit to Hitchin to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Plans, then approval
Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.
Structure and building control
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.
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 Hitchin

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 Hitchin?

We cover Hitchin (SG4 and SG5) and nearby places including Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage and Baldock, plus the rest of Hertfordshire. The first site visit is free.

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

Our guide for the East of England, which covers Hitchin, is £2,060–£2,830 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 £74,000–£102,000. 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.

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

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in Hitchin

All two-storey extension services in Hitchin · Part single, part two-storey extensions across Hertfordshire

Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Hitchin.