Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Caerphilly

What we'd confirm first for a project in Caerphilly.

Postcode districts: CF83
County / area: Gwent, Wales
Price region: Wales
Guide price: £51,500–£69,500 (£1,840–£2,480 per m²)
Approval route: Depends on position: rear (3 m first floor, 10.5 m to the boundary) and some side extensions (10.5 m, 1 m set-back) can be permitted development in Wales.
Nearest towns: Bedwas (1.5 miles), Thornhill (2.5 miles), Abertridwr (2.6 miles)
Distance to Newport (Gwent): about 9.5 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

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

A two-storey extension for a semi-detached house is a two-floor addition to the rear, the open side, or both, designed around the attached neighbour on one side. The rear is often the simplest option and can sometimes be permitted development, while a side extension uses the gap on the detached side. Both need care with the shared party wall and the neighbour's light.

Caerphilly sits about 9.5 miles from Newport (Gwent). Closer to home, Bedwas is 1.5 miles away and Thornhill 2.5 miles.

What it costs in Caerphilly

Our guide for Wales is £1,840–£2,480 per m² including VAT. On a project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space), that puts a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house in Caerphilly at roughly £51,500–£69,500. These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.

Spec	Per m²	A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential	£1,690–£2,290 per m²	£47,500–£64,000
Standard	£1,840–£2,480 per m²	£51,500–£69,500
Premium	£2,210–£2,980 per m²	£62,000–£83,500

Planning and building regulations in Caerphilly

In Wales, a semi can take a two-storey rear extension under permitted development with the ground floor up to 4 m and the first floor up to 3 m beyond the original rear wall, 10.5 m from the rear boundary. A side extension can also be permitted development if it is 10.5 m from the side boundary, set back 1 m and adds no more than 50% width. Otherwise the fee is £585.

Approval in Wales: Householder planning application: £585. Councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks.

Building regulations: Building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency).

Design points for Caerphilly 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.

Rear, side or both

On a semi, a rear extension sits against the attached neighbour, while a side extension faces the detached neighbour and the street. We compare the space, cost and approval route for each, and for a wraparound, before you commit to one design.

How we'd run your project

Start at your house
We come to your home in Caerphilly, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Design and approvals
We draw the extension and check it against the rules for Wales, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
Build
Foundations, walls, floor, roof, windows, then first and second fix. We break through into the house as late as we can.

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

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

Caerphilly is in Wales, so Wales planning rules apply. Depends on position: rear (3 m first floor, 10.5 m to the boundary) and some side extensions (10.5 m, 1 m set-back) can be permitted development in Wales. 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 Caerphilly?

Our guide for Wales, which covers Caerphilly, is £1,840–£2,480 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 £51,500–£69,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Caerphilly?

We handle it as part of the project. What's needed in Wales: building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency). We prepare the drawings and the engineer's calculations, book the inspections and pass you the completion paperwork at the end.

Does a two-storey extension add value to a semi-detached house?

It usually adds value, but the gain is never certain. Nationwide's 2025 research found that 10% more floor area was linked to about 5% higher value, and that adding a double bedroom and bathroom to a three-bed, one-bathroom house could add up to 24%. Every street has a ceiling price, so check local sales first.

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 Caerphilly? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Caerphilly

All two-storey extension services in Caerphilly · Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses across Gwent

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