Two-storey extension plans and drawings in Bristol
Looking for help with extension plans and drawings in Bristol? Here's what's involved, the rules in England and what it typically costs.
Bristol at a glance
- Nation
- England
- Price region
- South West England
- Postcode areas
- BS
- Towns covered
- 7 listed below, plus surrounding villages
- Site visits
- Free, no obligation
What a set of extension plans involves
This service suits you if you want clear, accurate plans for a two-storey extension, whether to apply for planning, check permitted development or get build prices. You get a measured survey, sketch options with guide costs, a chosen design developed into planning drawings and, if you go ahead, building regulations drawings coordinated with the structural engineer. Because we also build, the drawings are prepared with the build in mind.
The main places we list in Bristol are Bishopsworth (BS13), Easton-in-Gordano (BS11), Severn Beach (BS10), Chew Magna (BS13), Dundry (BS13) and Whitchurch (Bristol) (BS14). We cover the villages in between too.
Fees
Planning drawings (survey and design) are a guide of £2,000–£3,500 and building regulations drawings and specification £1,500–£4,000, with your design stage priced in writing before it starts.
Rules in England
In England, the plans support either a householder application, costing £548 (or £575 for applications made from 8 December 2026), or a lawful development certificate for permitted development, costing £274 (about £288 for applications from 8 December 2026). They must show the extension's relationship to the original house, the boundaries and neighbours, because two-storey rear permitted development depends on the 3 m and 7 m limits.
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
Drawings that can be built
Drawings that ignore steel sizes, floor depths or drain runs often need redesigning once a builder prices them. We coordinate the design with the structural engineer and our build teams, so what is approved is practical to construct.
Start with a measured survey
Accurate drawings depend on accurate measurements of the house, the boundaries and neighbouring windows. We measure inside and out, note levels, drains and trees, and record the original house so permitted development limits can be checked against the right starting point.
How we work in Bristol
Understand the brief
At your home in Bristol we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Bristol and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Structure and building control
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.
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 Bristol
Two-storey extension plans and drawings in Bristol: questions
Do I own the plans once they are drawn?
You receive copies of the drawings to use for your project, including your planning application and building regulations approval. Copyright in drawings normally stays with whoever prepares them unless agreed otherwise. Your written design stage price sets out how the drawings can be used.
Can I use plans from a previous owner's planning permission?
Sometimes. If the permission is still valid, usually within three years of the decision in England, you can build to it. The drawings may still need updating for building regulations, and the design may not suit your needs. We check old plans and permissions at the free site visit.
Do the plans include structural calculations?
Not at planning stage. Structural calculations and beam design are prepared by a structural engineer once the design is agreed, and they form part of the building regulations package. We coordinate the engineer's work with the drawings so steel sizes and floor depths match.
Neighbouring areas
- Two-storey extension plans and drawings in Somerset
- Two-storey extension plans and drawings in Gloucestershire
- Two-storey extension plans and drawings in Gwent
- Two-storey extension plans and drawings in Wiltshire
All extension services in Bristol · About two-storey extension plans and drawings
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.