Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Crofton Park

Crofton Park: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts: SE4
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: Forest Hill (0.5 miles), Ladywell (0.6 miles), Lewisham (0.7 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.

Around Crofton Park we also work in Forest Hill, Ladywell and Lewisham, and across the rest of Greater London. Postcode district in and near Crofton Park: SE4.

What it costs in Crofton Park

For budgeting in Crofton Park, allow around £67,000–£90,500 for a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). That's based on £2,400–£3,240 per m² including VAT for London. 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	£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 Crofton Park

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 Crofton Park 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.

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

Free site visit
We visit your home in Crofton Park, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.
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 Crofton Park

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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Crofton Park?

We cover Crofton Park (SE4) and nearby places including Forest Hill, Ladywell and Lewisham, plus the rest of Greater London. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Crofton Park?

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.

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.

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.

Nearby

Other towns near Crofton Park:

Other extensions in Crofton Park

All two-storey extension services in Crofton Park · 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.