Worthing · West Sussex

Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Worthing

Thinking about a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house in Worthing? We design it, take it through the approvals it needs and build it, with one team responsible from the first visit to the final certificate.

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

Postcode districts
BN11, BN12, BN13 and BN14
County / area
West Sussex, 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
Lancing (2.4 miles), Shoreham-by-Sea (4.6 miles), Steyning (5.2 miles)
Distance to Crawley
about 22 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 Worthing we also work in Lancing, Shoreham-by-Sea and Steyning, and across the rest of West Sussex. Postcode districts in and near Worthing: BN11, BN12, BN13 and BN14.

What it costs in Worthing

Most of the cost of a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house is set by its size and specification. For Worthing and the rest of South East England, our guide is £2,200–£2,970 per m² including VAT, so about £61,500–£83,000 for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

SpecPer m²A 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 Worthing

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 Worthing 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.

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. Measure and listen

    A visit to Worthing to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.

  2. Drawings and permission

    Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Worthing.

  3. Technical design

    We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.

  4. Build it

    The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

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

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house in Worthing?

Worthing 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.

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

Our guide for South East England, which covers Worthing, 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.

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.

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.

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

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

Other extensions in Worthing

All two-storey extension services in Worthing · Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses across West Sussex

Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.

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