Two-storey front extensions in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan at a glance

Nation: Wales
Price region: Wales
Postcode areas: CF
Towns covered: 10 listed below, plus surrounding villages
Approval route: Planning permission is needed for anything built forward of the front wall.
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. It suits houses set well back from the road.

Across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan we cover Cardiff (CF10), Barry (CF62), Penarth (CF64), Llantwit Major (CF61), Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) (CF14) and Rhiwbina (CF14), plus the smaller places around them.

Guide price in Wales

Using our Wales 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 £24,500–£33,000, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

Spec	Per m²	Typical project
Essential	£1,860–£2,540 per m²	£22,500–£30,500
Standard	£2,020–£2,760 per m²	£24,500–£33,000
Premium	£2,430–£3,310 per m²	£29,000–£39,500

Rules in Wales

In Wales, the permitted development allowances for two-storey work cover rear extensions and side extensions set back at least 1 m from the front of the house, so a two-storey front extension needs a householder planning application. The fee is £585 and decisions are normally made within 8 weeks. Building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents follows.

Approval in Wales: Householder planning application: £585. Councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks.

Building regulations: Building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency).

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies in Wales, so notices may be needed for work on or near a shared wall or boundary.

Getting the design right

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.

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.

How we work in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

Start at your house
We come to your home in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Wales before drawing in detail.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.
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 Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

Two-storey front extensions in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan: questions

How much does a two-storey front extension cost in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan?

In Wales our guide is £2,020–£2,760 per m² including VAT, so about £24,500–£33,000 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.

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).

Does a front extension affect my parking?

It can. If it is built over part of the drive you may lose a parking space, and some councils consider whether enough off-road parking remains. We measure the drive at the survey and show on the drawings how cars, bins and meters will fit after the work.

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 I need planning permission in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan?

Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan is in Wales. Planning permission is needed for anything built forward of the front wall.

Neighbouring areas

All extension services in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan · About two-storey front extensions