Two-storey rear extensions in Driffield

Before you start in Driffield, here's what applies.

Postcode districts: YO25
County / area: East Riding of Yorkshire, England
Price region: Yorkshire and the Humber
Guide price: £51,500–£69,500 (£1,840–£2,480 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: Beverley (11.1 miles), Bridlington (11.6 miles), Hull (18.6 miles)
Distance to Hull: about 18.6 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 postcode district YO25 in and around Driffield, along with neighbouring Beverley, Bridlington and Hull.

What it costs in Driffield

Most of the cost of a two-storey rear extension is set by its size and specification. For Driffield and the rest of Yorkshire and the Humber, our guide is £1,840–£2,480 per m² including VAT, so about £51,500–£69,500 for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.

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 Driffield

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 Driffield 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.

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

Understand the brief
At your home in Driffield we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Design and approvals
We draw the extension and check it against the rules for England, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.
Structure and building control
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.
On site
One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

Questions about two-storey rear extensions in Driffield

Who handles building regulations for a project in Driffield?

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 Driffield?

Our guide for Yorkshire and the Humber, which covers Driffield, 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.

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

Driffield 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

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in Driffield

All two-storey extension services in Driffield · Two-storey rear extensions across East Riding of Yorkshire

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