Two-storey front extensions in Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire at a glance

Nation: England
Price region: East of England
Postcode areas: CB, PE, SG
Towns covered: 13 listed below, plus surrounding villages
Approval route: Planning permission is needed: nothing can go forward of the front wall under permitted development.
Site visits: Free, no obligation

What a two-storey front extension involves

A two-storey front extension is an addition built forward of the front wall of your house on both floors, often a deeper hall or study below and a larger bedroom above. Because it changes how the house looks from the street, it always needs planning permission in England and is judged closely on design. It suits houses set well back from the road.

Towns in Cambridgeshire include Peterborough (PE1), Cambridge (CB1), Wisbech (PE13), St Neots (PE19), Huntingdon (PE28) and March (PE15). If yours isn't listed, we still cover it.

Guide price in the East of England

Our guide for the East of England is £2,270–£3,090 per m² including VAT. On a project with a 3 m × 2 m footprint on two floors (12 m² of new floor space), that puts a two-storey front extension in Cambridgeshire at roughly £27,000–£37,000. These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.

Spec	Per m²	Typical project
Essential	£2,080–£2,840 per m²	£25,000–£34,000
Standard	£2,270–£3,090 per m²	£27,000–£37,000
Premium	£2,720–£3,710 per m²	£32,500–£44,500

Rules in England

In England, a two-storey front extension always needs householder planning permission, because permitted development does not allow any extension forward of the principal elevation. The fee is £548 (or £575 for applications made from 8 December 2026). Councils judge it mainly on design and the street scene, and should decide within 8 weeks of validation.

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

Respecting the building line

Councils pay close attention to how far a front extension projects past the line of neighbouring houses. A shallow projection, often a gable or bay that echoes the original design, has a much better chance of approval than a deep box. We look at the street before drawing anything.

Daylight to existing rooms

A front extension can make the hall and front rooms darker, especially if it covers an existing window. We position new windows to keep the house bright, and check that the new front bedroom gets good daylight without overlooking houses opposite.

How we work in Cambridgeshire

Free site visit
We visit your home in Cambridgeshire, 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 Cambridgeshire and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
Finish and certify
Second fix, plastering and making good, then building control's final inspection and the completion paperwork.

Towns we cover in Cambridgeshire

Two-storey front extensions in Cambridgeshire: questions

How much does a two-storey front extension cost in Cambridgeshire?

In the East of England our guide is £2,270–£3,090 per m² including VAT, so about £27,000–£37,000 for a 3 m × 2 m footprint on two floors (12 m² of new floor space). Essential and Premium specs move that by roughly 8% down or 20% up.

Can I combine a front extension with a porch?

Yes. A common approach is a two-storey bay or gable with a single-storey porch roof running across the front door. This gives a bigger hall and front bedroom while breaking up the mass of the front wall. Both parts are covered by the same planning application and building regulations approval.

How far forward can a front extension go?

There is no fixed figure, because a two-storey front extension needs planning permission and the council decides case by case. Many councils' design guides favour a shallow projection that keeps a clear front garden. Our guide prices assume a modest example with a 3 m × 2 m footprint on two floors (12 m² of new floor space).

Will the council approve a two-storey front extension?

It depends on the street. Councils are more cautious about front extensions than rear ones because they change the street scene. Approval is more likely where the house is set back, the projection is modest, the design echoes the original house and similar additions already exist nearby. We give you a frank view at the free site visit.

Will I need planning permission in Cambridgeshire?

Cambridgeshire is in England. Planning permission is needed: nothing can go forward of the front wall under permitted development.

Neighbouring areas

All extension services in Cambridgeshire · About two-storey front extensions