Knightsbridge and Belgravia · Greater London

Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Knightsbridge and Belgravia

A two-storey extension for a semi-detached house is one of the most space-efficient ways to add bedrooms and living space to a house in Knightsbridge and Belgravia, because the new floors share one set of foundations and one roof.

Before you start in Knightsbridge and Belgravia, here's what applies.

Postcode districts
SW7
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
Bayswater (0.9 miles), Chelsea (1.2 miles), St James's (1.2 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 Knightsbridge and Belgravia we also work in Bayswater, Chelsea and St James's, and across the rest of Greater London. Postcode district in and near Knightsbridge and Belgravia: SW7.

What it costs in Knightsbridge and Belgravia

A guide price for Knightsbridge and Belgravia: around £67,000–£90,500 for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). That works out at £2,400–£3,240 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.

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 Knightsbridge and Belgravia

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 Knightsbridge and Belgravia 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

  1. Free site visit

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

  2. Drawings, then consent

    We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.

  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 Knightsbridge and Belgravia

Who handles building regulations for a project in Knightsbridge and Belgravia?

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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Knightsbridge and Belgravia?

We cover Knightsbridge and Belgravia (SW7) and nearby places including Bayswater, Chelsea and St James's, plus the rest of Greater London. The first site visit is free.

How much does a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house cost in Knightsbridge and Belgravia?

Our guide for London, which covers Knightsbridge and Belgravia, 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.

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.

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

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

Other extensions in Knightsbridge and Belgravia

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

The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Knightsbridge and Belgravia and give you an honest view of the options.

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