Two-storey rear extensions in Cardiff

The basics for Cardiff at a glance.

Postcode districts: CF10, CF11 and CF24
County / area: Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Price region: Wales
Guide price: £51,500–£69,500 (£1,840–£2,480 per m²)
Approval route: It may be permitted development if the ground floor goes no more than 4 m and the first floor no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall, with the first floor 10.5 m from the rear boundary.
Nearest towns: Llandaff (1.9 miles), Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) (2.8 miles), Penarth (2.9 miles)
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a two-storey rear extension

A two-storey rear extension is a new two-floor addition built onto the back of your house, usually giving a larger kitchen or living space on the ground floor and one or two bedrooms or a bathroom above. Because both floors share one set of foundations and one roof, it adds a lot of floor space for the garden it uses. In some cases it can be built under permitted development, depending on where you live.

We cover Cardiff (CF10, CF11 and CF24) and the places around it, including Llandaff (1.9 miles), Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) (2.8 miles) and Penarth.

What it costs in Cardiff

Expect a two-storey rear extension in Cardiff to land somewhere around £51,500–£69,500 for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). Our Wales guide rate is £1,840–£2,480 per m², including VAT. Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.

Spec	Per m²	A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential	£1,690–£2,290 per m²	£47,500–£64,000
Standard	£1,840–£2,480 per m²	£51,500–£69,500
Premium	£2,210–£2,980 per m²	£62,000–£83,500

Planning and building regulations in Cardiff

In Wales, a two-storey rear extension can be permitted development if the ground floor goes no more than 4 m and the first floor no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall, with the first floor at least 10.5 m from the rear boundary. Nothing within 2 m of a boundary can be higher than 4 m. Conservation areas and other protected areas are excluded, and a householder application costs £585.

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).

Design points for Cardiff homes

Opening up the ground floor

Knocking through the old rear wall means steel beams to carry the first floor and roof above. The structural engineer sets the beam sizes, padstones and any posts, and we plan them early so the open-plan layout you want is the one that gets built.

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.

How we'd run your project

Look at the house
We start in Cardiff with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Cardiff and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
Build it
The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Questions about two-storey rear extensions in Cardiff

How long does a two-storey rear extension take?

Allow 4 to 8 weeks for survey and design, then the approval period (councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks), then 4 to 8 weeks of technical design, which can overlap. The build itself usually takes 14 to 20 weeks, longer for large or complex designs.

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey rear extension in Cardiff?

Cardiff is in Wales, so Wales planning rules apply. It may be permitted development if the ground floor goes no more than 4 m and the first floor no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall, with the first floor 10.5 m from the rear boundary. If in doubt, a lawful development certificate or a planning application gives you certainty before you build.

Which postcodes do you cover around Cardiff?

We cover Cardiff (CF10, CF11 and CF24) and nearby places including Llandaff, Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) and Penarth, plus the rest of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The first site visit is free.

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

Our guide for Wales, which covers Cardiff, is £1,840–£2,480 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 £51,500–£69,500. 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.

Nearby

Nearby towns we cover for two-storey rear extensions:

Other extensions in Cardiff

All two-storey extension services in Cardiff · Two-storey rear extensions across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Cardiff and give you an honest view of the options.