Two-storey rear extensions in Dronfield

Quick reference for homeowners in Dronfield.

Postcode districts: S18
County / area: Derbyshire, England
Price region: East Midlands
Guide price: £55,000–£74,000 (£1,960–£2,650 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: Nether Edge (4 miles), Chesterfield (4.3 miles), Fulwood (4.5 miles)
Distance to Derby: about 26.2 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 Dronfield (S18) and the places around it, including Nether Edge (4.0 miles), Chesterfield (4.3 miles) and Fulwood.

What it costs in Dronfield

Most of the cost of a two-storey rear extension is set by its size and specification. For Dronfield and the rest of the East Midlands, our guide is £1,960–£2,650 per m² including VAT, so about £55,000–£74,000 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	£1,800–£2,430 per m²	£50,500–£68,000
Standard	£1,960–£2,650 per m²	£55,000–£74,000
Premium	£2,350–£3,180 per m²	£66,000–£89,000

Planning and building regulations in Dronfield

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 Dronfield homes

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.

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.

How we'd run your project

Free site visit
We visit your home in Dronfield, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.
Price it properly
Once the engineer's calculations are in, we fix the build price in writing, with a clear list of what's included.
Build and sign-off
Vetted teams working under S&K build the extension, and we arrange the building control completion certificate at the end.

Questions about two-storey rear extensions in Dronfield

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

Our guide for the East Midlands, which covers Dronfield, is £1,960–£2,650 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 £55,000–£74,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

How long does a two-storey rear extension take?

Allow 4 to 8 weeks for survey and design, then the approval period (councils should decide householder applications within 8 weeks of validation), 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 Dronfield?

Dronfield 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

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

Other extensions in Dronfield

All two-storey extension services in Dronfield · Two-storey rear extensions across Derbyshire

Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.