Ashford (Kent) · Kent

Two-storey rear extensions in Ashford (Kent)

Homes in Ashford (Kent) with a bit of space to the side or rear can often take a two-storey rear extension. We'll tell you honestly whether yours can, and what approvals it needs.

Useful details for planning a two-storey rear extension in Ashford (Kent).

Postcode districts
TN23, TN24, TN25, TN26, TN27 and TN30
County / area
Kent, England
Price region
South East England
Guide price
£61,500–£83,000 (£2,200–£2,970 per m²)
Approval route
It may be permitted development if it goes no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall (counting any single-storey part) and stays 7 m from the rear boundary; otherwise it needs planning permission.
Nearest towns
Hythe (Kent) (10.5 miles), New Romney (11.5 miles), Faversham (11.6 miles)
Distance to Maidstone
about 17.5 miles
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a two-storey rear extension

A two-storey rear extension suits you if you need more room on both floors and have a reasonably deep garden. You get one team for the whole job: a measured survey, the design, a check on whether permitted development applies, planning drawings where they are needed, structural design, building regulations approval and the build itself, carried out by vetted teams working under S&K. Every project starts with a free site visit.

We cover postcode districts TN23, TN24, TN25, TN26, TN27 and TN30 in and around Ashford (Kent), along with neighbouring Hythe (Kent), New Romney and Faversham.

What it costs in Ashford (Kent)

Using our South East England rates, a two-storey rear extension with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) comes to about £61,500–£83,000, 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.

SpecPer m²A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential£2,020–£2,730 per m²£56,500–£76,500
Standard£2,200–£2,970 per m²£61,500–£83,000
Premium£2,640–£3,560 per m²£74,000–£100,000

Planning and building regulations in Ashford (Kent)

In England, a two-storey rear extension can be permitted development if it goes no more than 3 m beyond the rear wall of the original house, stays at least 7 m from the rear boundary and matches the house's materials and roof pitch. It is not permitted development in conservation areas, National Landscapes, National Parks, World Heritage Sites or the Broads. Otherwise a householder application costs £548 (or £575 for applications made from 8 December 2026).

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.

Design points for Ashford (Kent) homes

Depth and neighbours' light

Councils check that a two-storey rear extension does not take too much light or outlook from neighbouring windows, and many use a 45-degree line drawn from the nearest habitable window. We test this at sketch stage, so the depth you are shown is one that can realistically be approved.

Foundations and drains

Foundations for two storeys carry more load than a single storey and may need to go deeper near trees or on clay. Rear extensions often sit near drains, so we check sewer records early, as building over or near a public sewer may need the water company's agreement.

How we'd run your project

  1. Understand the brief

    At your home in Ashford (Kent) we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.

  2. Drawings, then consent

    We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.

  3. Technical design

    We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.

  4. Build

    Foundations, walls, floor, roof, windows, then first and second fix. We break through into the house as late as we can.

Questions about two-storey rear extensions in Ashford (Kent)

How much does a two-storey rear extension cost in Ashford (Kent)?

Our guide for South East England, which covers Ashford (Kent), is £2,200–£2,970 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) comes to about £61,500–£83,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Which postcodes do you cover around Ashford (Kent)?

We cover Ashford (Kent) (TN23, TN24, TN25, TN26, TN27 and TN30) and nearby places including Hythe (Kent), New Romney and Faversham, plus the rest of Kent. The first site visit is free.

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey rear extension in Ashford (Kent)?

Ashford (Kent) is in England, so England planning rules apply. It may be permitted development if it goes no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall (counting any single-storey part) and stays 7 m from the rear boundary; otherwise it needs planning permission. If in doubt, a lawful development certificate or a planning application gives you certainty before you build.

Will a two-storey rear extension block my neighbour's light?

It can if it is too deep or too close to the boundary, which is why councils look closely at its effect on neighbouring windows and gardens. We test the design against light and outlook early, keep the first floor shorter or set in where needed, and use a hipped roof to reduce bulk on the boundary side.

Can I have a balcony on a two-storey rear extension?

In England, balconies, verandas and raised platforms are not permitted development, so a balcony on a two-storey rear extension needs planning permission. A Juliet balcony, a guard rail across full-height doors with no platform to stand on, is often a practical alternative, but it still needs checking against the rules and the council's approach to overlooking.

Nearby

We also cover places near Ashford (Kent), including:

Other extensions in Ashford (Kent)

All two-storey extension services in Ashford (Kent) · Two-storey rear extensions across Kent

Book a free site visit in Ashford (Kent) and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.

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