Structural engineering for two-storey extensions in Leicestershire

Leicestershire at a glance

Nation: England
Price region: East Midlands
Postcode areas: CV, LE
Towns covered: 23 listed below, plus surrounding villages
Site visits: Free, no obligation

What a structural design involves

This service suits every two-storey extension, because each one needs foundations sized for two storeys and usually steel beams where walls are removed. You get a structural engineer's calculations and drawings for beams, padstones, lintels, foundations and connections, coordinated with the architectural drawings, submitted for building control and followed through on site by our build teams.

Leicestershire towns we list: Leicester (LE1), Loughborough (LE11), Hinckley (LE10), Coalville (LE67), Wigston Magna (LE8) and Melton Mowbray (LE13). Every other address in Leicestershire is covered as well.

Fees

A structural engineer (calculations and beam design) is a guide of £750–£2,200, priced in writing once the design is known.

Rules in England

In England, structural engineering is part of building regulations approval under Part A rather than planning. The engineer's calculations go to council building control or a registered building control approver with the full plans application. Where more than one contractor is involved, the Building Safety Act dutyholder rules also apply.

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.

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies, so notices may be needed for work on or near a shared wall or boundary.

Getting the design right

Tying into the house

The new walls and floors are tied into the existing house with wall ties, restraint straps and joist hangers. The engineer also considers movement between the old and new foundations and where a movement joint may be needed.

Beams and padstones

Steel beams carry the first floor and roof over openings, and they sit on padstones that spread the load into the walls. The engineer sizes each beam and checks the walls can take the point loads, which affects ceiling heights and where posts can go.

How we work in Leicestershire

Free site visit
We visit your home in Leicestershire, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Leicestershire and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Technical design
We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.
Build and sign-off
Vetted teams working under S&K build the extension, and we arrange the building control completion certificate at the end.

Towns we cover in Leicestershire

Structural engineering for two-storey extensions in Leicestershire: questions

What are trial holes and why do I need them?

Trial holes are small excavations dug next to the house or garage to see the depth and condition of the existing foundations and the soil. They tell the engineer whether existing footings can be reused and how deep the new ones need to go, which avoids surprises during the build.

Can a steel beam be hidden in the ceiling?

Often, yes. A beam can sit within the floor depth so the ceiling is flat, but that may mean a deeper steel section or a different floor structure. Otherwise it shows as a downstand below the ceiling. We discuss the options with you and the engineer before the design is fixed.

Will the engineer visit the site during the build?

Not usually at every stage. Building control inspects the foundations, steelwork and other key stages against the approved calculations. The engineer is called back if site conditions differ from the design, such as unexpected ground, hidden beams or weak existing walls, and issues revised details before that part of the work continues.

Neighbouring areas

All extension services in Leicestershire · About structural engineering for two-storey extensions