Two-storey annexe extensions in Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear has a wide mix of house types, and most can take a well-designed two-storey annexe extension. Here's what's involved, the rules in England and typical costs.
Tyne and Wear at a glance
- Nation
- England
- Price region
- North East England
- Postcode areas
- DH, NE, SR
- Towns covered
- 20 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.
Tyne and Wear towns we list: Newcastle upon Tyne (NE1), Sunderland (SR1), South Shields (NE33), Gateshead (NE8), Washington (NE37) and Tynemouth (NE30). Every other address in Tyne and Wear is covered as well.
Guide price in North East England
Our guide for North East England is £1,840–£2,480 per m² including VAT. On a project with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), that puts a two-storey annexe extension in Tyne and Wear at roughly £77,500–£104,000 (plus kitchenette and shower room fittings, priced to your choice). Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.
| Spec | Per m² | Typical project |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,700–£2,280 per m² | £71,500–£95,500 |
| Standard | £1,840–£2,480 per m² | £77,500–£104,000 |
| Premium | £2,210–£2,970 per m² | £93,000–£124,500 |
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
Annexe, not a separate house
To stay an annexe, the space should be used by members of the household and stay linked to the main house, usually with an internal door and shared address, garden and services. Designing it as a fully separate home can mean the council treats it as a new dwelling.
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 Tyne and Wear
Start at your house
We come to your home in Tyne and Wear, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Plans, then approval
Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.
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 Tyne and Wear
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Sunderland
- South Shields
- Gateshead
- Washington
- Tynemouth
- Wallsend
- Newburn
- North Shields
- Whitley Bay
- Houghton-le-Spring
- Felling
- Jarrow
- Gosforth
- Hebburn
- Whickham
- Blaydon-on-Tyne
- Hetton-le-Hole
- Ryhope
- The Boldons
Two-storey annexe extensions in Tyne and Wear: questions
How much does a two-storey annexe extension cost in Tyne and Wear?
In North East England our guide is £1,840–£2,480 per m² including VAT, so about £77,500–£104,000 (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 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.
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.
Does a two-storey annexe need planning permission?
It depends on where it goes and your nation. In England, a rear annexe extension can be permitted development within the 3 m and 7 m limits, but a side one always needs planning permission. If the annexe could work as a separate home, the council may treat it as a new dwelling, which needs full planning permission.
Will I need planning permission in Tyne and Wear?
Tyne and Wear is in England. Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Neighbouring areas
- Two-storey annexe extensions in Northumberland
- Two-storey annexe extensions in County Durham
- Two-storey annexe extensions in North Yorkshire
- Two-storey annexe extensions in the Scottish Borders
All extension services in Tyne and Wear · About two-storey annexe extensions
Ready to see what a second storey could do for your home?
Book a free site visit. We'll look at your house, talk through options and explain the approvals you'd need, then price the design stage in writing.