Bridport · Dorset

Two-storey rear extensions in Bridport

Homes in Bridport 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.

Bridport: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts
DT6, DT7 and DT8
County / area
Dorset, England
Price region
South West England
Guide price
£57,500–£78,000 (£2,060–£2,780 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
Chard (13.2 miles), Dorchester (14.3 miles), Yeovil (15.4 miles)
Distance to Bournemouth
about 38.4 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.

Bridport sits about 38.4 miles from Bournemouth. Closer to home, Chard is 13.2 miles away and Dorchester 14.3 miles.

What it costs in Bridport

Using our South West 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 £57,500–£78,000, 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.

SpecPer m²A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,900–£2,560 per m²£53,000–£71,500
Standard£2,060–£2,780 per m²£57,500–£78,000
Premium£2,470–£3,340 per m²£69,000–£93,500

Planning and building regulations in Bridport

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 Bridport homes

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.

Roof form

A hipped or gabled roof that matches the pitch of the main house usually looks best, and matching the pitch is a permitted development condition in England. Keeping the ridge below the main ridge makes the extension read as secondary and avoids awkward junctions with existing gutters and windows.

How we'd run your project

  1. Understand the brief

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

  2. Plans, then approval

    Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.

  3. Engineer it

    Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.

  4. Build and hand over

    We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.

Questions about two-storey rear extensions in Bridport

Which postcodes do you cover around Bridport?

We cover Bridport (DT6, DT7 and DT8) and nearby places including Chard, Dorchester and Yeovil, plus the rest of Dorset. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Bridport?

We handle it as part of the project. What's needed in England: building regulations approval (full plans recommended) from the council or a registered building control approver, with a completion certificate at the end. We prepare the drawings and the engineer's calculations, book the inspections and pass you the completion paperwork at the end.

How much does a two-storey rear extension cost in Bridport?

Our guide for South West England, which covers Bridport, is £2,060–£2,780 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 £57,500–£78,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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

Close to Bridport? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Bridport

All two-storey extension services in Bridport · Two-storey rear extensions across Dorset

Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Bridport.

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