Chorleywood · Hertfordshire

Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Chorleywood

Want to stay in Chorleywood 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.

The basics for Chorleywood at a glance.

Postcode districts
WD3
County / area
Hertfordshire, England
Price region
East of England
Guide price
£57,500–£78,000 (£2,060–£2,780 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
Rickmansworth (1.9 miles), Batchworth (2.6 miles), Croxley Green (3.1 miles)
Distance to Watford
about 5.1 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.

We cover Chorleywood (WD3) and the places around it, including Rickmansworth (1.9 miles), Batchworth (2.6 miles) and Croxley Green.

What it costs in Chorleywood

Guide prices for two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in the East of England are around £2,060–£2,780 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 £57,500–£78,000. Design fees, structural calculations and approval fees are separate and listed on our prices page.

SpecPer m²A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,900–£2,560 per m²£53,000–£71,500
Standard£2,060–£2,780 per m²£57,500–£78,000
Premium£2,470–£3,340 per m²£69,000–£93,500

Planning and building regulations in Chorleywood

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 Chorleywood homes

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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Visit and first ideas

    One of our team visits your house in Chorleywood, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.

  2. Plans, then approval

    Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.

  3. Engineer it

    Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.

  4. On site

    One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

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

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

Our guide for the East of England, which covers Chorleywood, is £2,060–£2,780 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 £57,500–£78,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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

Chorleywood 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Chorleywood?

We cover Chorleywood (WD3) and nearby places including Rickmansworth, Batchworth and Croxley Green, plus the rest of Hertfordshire. The first site visit is free.

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.

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

Other towns near Chorleywood:

Other extensions in Chorleywood

All two-storey extension services in Chorleywood · Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses across Hertfordshire

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