Southall · Greater London

Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Southall

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 Southall, because the new floors share one set of foundations and one roof.

The basics for Southall at a glance.

Postcode districts
UB1 and UB2
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
Greenford (1.5 miles), Heston (1.8 miles), West Ealing (2.1 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 Southall we also work in Greenford, Heston and West Ealing, and across the rest of Greater London. Postcode districts in and near Southall: UB1 and UB2.

What it costs in Southall

Using our London rates, 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) comes to about £67,000–£90,500, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². We'll give you a written design-stage price first, then a fixed build price once the drawings are agreed.

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 Southall

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 Southall 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

  1. Understand the brief

    At your home in Southall we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.

  2. Get it approved

    Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Southall and deal with any questions from the planning officer.

  3. Detail and price

    Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.

  4. Finish and certify

    Second fix, plastering and making good, then building control's final inspection and the completion paperwork.

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

Which postcodes do you cover around Southall?

We cover Southall (UB1 and UB2) and nearby places including Greenford, Heston and West Ealing, 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 Southall?

Our guide for London, which covers Southall, 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.

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.

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

Close to Southall? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Southall

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

Book a free site visit in Southall and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.

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