Two-storey extension plans and drawings in County Durham

County Durham at a glance

Nation: England
Price region: North East England
Postcode areas: DH, DL, SR, TS
Towns covered: 19 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.

Across County Durham we cover Darlington (DL1), Hartlepool (TS24), Stockton-on-Tees (TS18), Durham (DH1), Chester-le-Street (DH2) and Billingham (TS20), plus the smaller places around them.

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 County Durham

Understand the brief
At your home in County Durham we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.
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 County Durham

Two-storey extension plans and drawings in County Durham: questions

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 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.

How long do extension plans take to prepare?

Survey, design and planning drawings usually take 4 to 8 weeks, depending on how many options you want to explore. Technical design, structural calculations and building control approval take a further 4 to 8 weeks, and this can overlap with the planning decision period.

Neighbouring areas

All extension services in County Durham · About two-storey extension plans and drawings