Part single, part two-storey extensions in Manchester City Centre

Manchester City Centre: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts: M2, M3 and M15
County / area: Greater Manchester, England
Price region: North West England
Guide price: £68,500–£94,000 (£1,900–£2,610 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: Manchester (0.3 miles), Cheetham Hill (1.3 miles), Salford (1.9 miles)
Distance to Manchester: about 0.3 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 postcode districts M2, M3 and M15 in and around Manchester City Centre, along with neighbouring Manchester, Cheetham Hill and Salford.

What it costs in Manchester City Centre

In North West England, which includes Manchester City Centre, we'd expect a part single, part two-storey extension to cost around £68,500–£94,000 for a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total), or £1,900–£2,610 per m² including VAT. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

Spec	Per m²	A 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total)
Essential	£1,750–£2,400 per m²	£63,000–£86,500
Standard	£1,900–£2,610 per m²	£68,500–£94,000
Premium	£2,280–£3,130 per m²	£82,000–£113,000

Planning and building regulations in Manchester City Centre

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 Manchester City Centre homes

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.

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

Visit and first ideas
One of our team visits your house in Manchester City Centre, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.
Build it
The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Questions about part single, part two-storey extensions in Manchester City Centre

Who handles building regulations for a project in Manchester City Centre?

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 Manchester City Centre?

Our guide for North West England, which covers Manchester City Centre, is £1,900–£2,610 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 £68,500–£94,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Which postcodes do you cover around Manchester City Centre?

We cover Manchester City Centre (M2, M3 and M15) and nearby places including Manchester, Cheetham Hill and Salford, plus the rest of Greater Manchester. The first site visit is free.

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.

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.

Nearby

We also cover places near Manchester City Centre, including:

Other extensions in Manchester City Centre

All two-storey extension services in Manchester City Centre · Part single, part two-storey extensions across Greater Manchester

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