Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Rhiwbina

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

Postcode districts: CF14 and CF15
County / area: Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, 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: Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) (1.2 miles), Thornhill (1.3 miles), Llandaff (2.4 miles)
Distance to Cardiff: about 3.6 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 Rhiwbina we also work in Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan), Thornhill and Llandaff, and across the rest of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Postcode districts in and near Rhiwbina: CF14 and CF15.

What it costs in Rhiwbina

In Wales, which includes Rhiwbina, we'd expect a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house to cost around £51,500–£69,500 for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space), or £1,840–£2,480 per m² including VAT. Design fees, structural calculations and approval fees are separate and listed on our prices page.

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 Rhiwbina

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 Rhiwbina 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

Measure and listen
A visit to Rhiwbina to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Rhiwbina and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Structure and building control
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.
Build and hand over
We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.

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

Which postcodes do you cover around Rhiwbina?

We cover Rhiwbina (CF14 and CF15) and nearby places including Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan), Thornhill and Llandaff, plus the rest of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The first site visit is free.

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 normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks), 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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Rhiwbina?

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.

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

We also cover places near Rhiwbina, including:

Other extensions in Rhiwbina

All two-storey extension services in Rhiwbina · Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

Tell us about your house in Rhiwbina and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.