Two-storey front extensions in Somerset

Somerset at a glance

Nation: England
Price region: South West England
Postcode areas: BA, BS, TA
Towns covered: 18 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 Somerset include Bath (BA1), Weston-super-Mare (BS22), Taunton (TA1), Yeovil (BA20), Bridgwater (TA5) and Portishead (BS20). If yours isn't listed, we still cover it.

Guide price in South West England

Using our South West England rates, a two-storey front extension with a 3 m × 2 m footprint on two floors (12 m² of new floor space) comes to about £27,000–£37,000, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.

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

Roof and gable design

A front extension is the most visible part of the house, so the roof needs to look deliberate: a matching gable, a hipped bay or a porch roof below a first-floor bay. We match the pitch and materials and keep the ridge below the main roof.

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 Somerset

Understand the brief
At your home in Somerset 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 Somerset and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Technical design
We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.
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 Somerset

Two-storey front extensions in Somerset: questions

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

In South West 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.

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.

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 I need planning permission in Somerset?

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

Neighbouring areas

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