Bexley · Greater London

Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Bexley

Want to stay in Bexley but need more space? A two-storey extension for a semi-detached house adds floor area on two levels without giving up much garden. Here's what's involved.

Quick reference for homeowners in Bexley.

Postcode districts
DA5, DA6 and DA7
County / area
Greater London, England
Price region
London
Guide price
£67,000–£90,500 (£2,400–£3,240 per m²)
Approval route
Depends on position: a two-storey rear extension may be permitted development (3 m deep, 7 m from the rear boundary); a two-storey side extension needs planning permission.
Nearest towns
Sidcup (2.2 miles), Welling (2.3 miles), Dartford (2.8 miles)
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house

This service suits you if you own a semi-detached house and want to add bedrooms and living space without moving. On a semi, the main questions are which side to build on and how to treat the attached neighbour. You get a survey, design options, the approvals your nation needs and the build, carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

Around Bexley we also work in Sidcup, Welling and Dartford, and across the rest of Greater London. Postcode districts in and near Bexley: DA5, DA6 and DA7.

What it costs in Bexley

Guide prices for two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in London are around £2,400–£3,240 per m² of new floor space, including VAT. For a typical project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space), that's roughly £67,000–£90,500. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

SpecPer m²A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential£2,210–£2,980 per m²£62,000–£83,500
Standard£2,400–£3,240 per m²£67,000–£90,500
Premium£2,880–£3,890 per m²£80,500–£109,000

Planning and building regulations in Bexley

In England, a two-storey rear extension on a semi can be permitted development if it goes no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall and stays 7 m from the rear boundary, with matching materials and roof pitch. A two-storey side or wraparound extension always needs planning permission, costing £548 (or £575 for applications made from 8 December 2026). Protected areas such as conservation areas exclude two-storey rear permitted development.

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 Bexley homes

The attached neighbour's light

A two-storey rear extension next to the party wall can take light from the neighbour's rear windows. Councils often use a 45-degree test, so the first floor may need to be shorter than the ground floor or set in from the shared boundary.

Keeping the pair balanced

Semis are designed as matching pairs, and a side extension changes that balance. Setting the side extension back from the front wall and keeping its ridge lower helps the pair still read as a pair, which councils' design guides commonly ask for.

How we'd run your project

  1. Free site visit

    We visit your home in Bexley, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.

  2. Drawings and permission

    Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Bexley.

  3. Technical design

    We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.

  4. Build it

    The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Questions about two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Bexley

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house in Bexley?

Bexley is in England, so England planning rules apply. Depends on position: a two-storey rear extension may be permitted development (3 m deep, 7 m from the rear boundary); a two-storey side extension needs planning permission. If in doubt, a lawful development certificate or a planning application gives you certainty before you build.

How much does a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house cost in Bexley?

Our guide for London, which covers Bexley, is £2,400–£3,240 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) comes to about £67,000–£90,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

How long does a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house 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.

Should I extend my semi to the side or the rear?

It depends on your plot and what you need. A rear extension keeps the side drive and can sometimes be permitted development, but it affects the attached neighbour. A side extension keeps the rear garden but always needs planning permission in England. We compare both at the free site visit.

What if my neighbour has already extended?

That often helps. An existing extension next door can reduce the effect of yours on their light, and may show what the council accepts on your street. It can also mean building alongside their wall, so we check its position, foundations and any windows facing your plot at the survey.

Nearby

Close to Bexley? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Bexley

All two-storey extension services in Bexley · Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses across Greater London

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