Two-storey front extensions in East Sussex

East Sussex at a glance

Nation: England
Price region: South East England
Postcode areas: BN, TN
Towns covered: 15 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.

Across East Sussex we cover Brighton (BN1), Eastbourne (BN20), Hastings (TN31), Hove (BN3), Bexhill-on-Sea (TN33) and Hailsham (BN26), plus the smaller places around them.

Guide price in South East England

Guide prices for two-storey front extensions in South East England are around £2,420–£3,300 per m² of new floor space, including VAT. For a typical project with a 3 m × 2 m footprint on two floors (12 m² of new floor space), that's roughly £29,000–£39,500. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

Spec	Per m²	Typical project
Essential	£2,230–£3,040 per m²	£26,500–£36,500
Standard	£2,420–£3,300 per m²	£29,000–£39,500
Premium	£2,900–£3,960 per m²	£35,000–£47,500

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.

Parking and access

Building forward can reduce off-road parking and the space for bins and meters. Councils may weigh up parking, so we check the drive will still work, along with the routes for gas, electricity and water supplies that often enter at the front.

How we work in East Sussex

Measure and listen
A visit to East Sussex to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Plans, then approval
Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
Build and hand over
We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.

Towns we cover in East Sussex

Two-storey front extensions in East Sussex: questions

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

In South East England our guide is £2,420–£3,300 per m² including VAT, so about £29,000–£39,500 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.

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.

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 I need planning permission in East Sussex?

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

Neighbouring areas

All extension services in East Sussex · About two-storey front extensions