Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Southsea

Before you start in Southsea, here's what applies.

Postcode districts: PO4 and PO5
County / area: Hampshire, England
Price region: South East England
Guide price: £61,500–£83,000 (£2,200–£2,970 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: Portsmouth (1.1 miles), Gosport (1.9 miles), Cosham (4.5 miles)
Distance to Southampton: about 16 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.

Southsea sits about 16.0 miles from Southampton. Closer to home, Portsmouth is 1.1 miles away and Gosport 1.9 miles.

What it costs in Southsea

In South East England, which includes Southsea, we'd expect a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house to cost around £61,500–£83,000 for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space), or £2,200–£2,970 per m² including VAT. Kitchens, bathroom fittings and flooring are priced separately so you can compare like with like.

Spec	Per m²	A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential	£2,020–£2,730 per m²	£56,500–£76,500
Standard	£2,200–£2,970 per m²	£61,500–£83,000
Premium	£2,640–£3,560 per m²	£74,000–£100,000

Planning and building regulations in Southsea

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 Southsea 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

Measure and listen
A visit to Southsea to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Structure and building control
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.
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 Southsea

Who handles building regulations for a project in Southsea?

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.

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

Our guide for South East England, which covers Southsea, is £2,200–£2,970 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 £61,500–£83,000. 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 Southsea?

Southsea 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.

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.

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.

Nearby

We also cover places near Southsea, including:

Other extensions in Southsea

All two-storey extension services in Southsea · Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses across Hampshire

Want a figure first? Try our guide price tool, then book a free visit to firm it up.