Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Canning Town

Quick reference for homeowners in Canning Town.

Postcode districts: E16
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: West Ham (1.4 miles), Stratford (1.6 miles), Bow (1.8 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.

We cover postcode district E16 in and around Canning Town, along with neighbouring West Ham, Stratford and Bow.

What it costs in Canning Town

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. The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.

Spec	Per m²	A 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 Canning Town

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 Canning Town homes

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.

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

Understand the brief
At your home in Canning Town we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
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 Canning Town

Which postcodes do you cover around Canning Town?

We cover Canning Town (E16) and nearby places including West Ham, Stratford and Bow, plus the rest of Greater London. The first site visit is free.

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

Canning Town 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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Canning Town?

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.

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.

Will a side extension make my semi look like a terrace?

It can if it fills the whole gap to the boundary at first floor and the neighbour does the same. Many councils ask for a first-floor gap to the side boundary or a set-back for this reason. We design the extension to keep the semi reading as one of a pair.

Nearby

Nearby towns we cover for two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses:

Other extensions in Canning Town

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

Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.