Two-storey annexe extensions in Devon

Devon at a glance

Nation: England
Price region: South West England
Postcode areas: EX, PL, TQ
Towns covered: 22 listed below, plus surrounding villages
Approval route: Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Site visits: Free, no obligation

What a two-storey annexe extension involves

This service suits you if a parent, grown-up child or carer is moving in and you want them to have their own space while staying connected to the house. You get a layout that can be self-contained or shared, the approvals your nation needs with the annexe use made clear, accessible design where needed and the build, carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

Towns in Devon include Plymouth (PL1), Exeter (EX2), Paignton (TQ3), Torquay (TQ1), Newton Abbot (TQ11) and Exmouth (EX8). If yours isn't listed, we still cover it.

Guide price in South West England

Using our South West England rates, a two-storey annexe extension with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) comes to about £88,500–£119,000 (plus kitchenette and shower room fittings, priced to your choice), including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.

Spec	Per m²	Typical project
Essential	£1,940–£2,610 per m²	£81,500–£109,500
Standard	£2,110–£2,830 per m²	£88,500–£119,000
Premium	£2,530–£3,400 per m²	£106,500–£143,000

Rules in England

In England, an annexe on two floors is assessed like any two-storey extension: at the rear it 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, but at the side it needs planning permission, costing £548 (or £575 for applications made from 8 December 2026). Councils often add a condition that the annexe stays ancillary to the main house and is not let separately.

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

Services and metering

An annexe usually shares the main house's water, gas and electricity, with a separate circuit or sub-meter if you want to split costs. We plan heating, hot water and drainage so the annexe works well without needing new supplies.

Fire separation and escape

A kitchenette in an annexe and a bedroom above need safe escape and suitable separation from the main house. Building control checks the escape windows, smoke alarms and the door between the two parts.

How we work in Devon

Measure and listen
A visit to Devon to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
Build it
The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Towns we cover in Devon

Two-storey annexe extensions in Devon: questions

How much does a two-storey annexe extension cost in Devon?

In South West England our guide is £2,110–£2,830 per m² including VAT, so about £88,500–£119,000 (plus kitchenette and shower room fittings, priced to your choice) for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). Essential and Premium specs move that by roughly 8% down or 20% up.

Can an annexe have its own front door?

It can, but a separate front door, kitchen and address together make it look more like a separate home, which can change how the council treats it for planning. Many annexes have their own door to the garden or side and an internal door to the main house. We explain how each choice is likely to be viewed before the design is fixed.

Can I rent out an annexe later?

Not always. Many annexe permissions include a condition that it is only used by members of the household, so renting it out may need a fresh planning application. If you think you might want to let it, tell us at the start so we can explain the options.

Can an annexe be designed for someone with limited mobility?

Yes. We can plan a ground-floor bedroom space, a level-access shower, wider doorways, lever handles and space for a stairlift later. These features are much cheaper to build in at the start than to add afterwards, and they keep the annexe useful as needs change.

Will I need planning permission in Devon?

Devon is in England. Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.

Neighbouring areas

All extension services in Devon · About two-storey annexe extensions