Frome · Somerset

Two-storey rear extensions in Frome

We cover Frome and the rest of Somerset for two-storey rear extensions. Start with a free site visit and a plain-English view of what your house and plot can take.

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

Postcode districts
BA11
County / area
Somerset, 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
Westbury (6.2 miles), Warminster (6.4 miles), Trowbridge (8 miles)
Distance to Bath
about 10.3 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.

Around Frome we also work in Westbury, Warminster and Trowbridge, and across the rest of Somerset. Postcode district in and near Frome: BA11.

What it costs in Frome

Most of the cost of a two-storey rear extension is set by its size and specification. For Frome and the rest of South West England, our guide is £2,060–£2,780 per m² including VAT, so about £57,500–£78,000 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.

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 Frome

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 Frome 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.

Upstairs layout and windows

Bedrooms above need a window big enough for escape or a protected route to the stairs. Side-facing upstairs windows normally have to be obscure-glazed and fixed below 1.7 m, so we put the main bedroom windows in the rear wall and use roof lights where extra daylight is needed.

How we'd run your project

  1. Visit and first ideas

    One of our team visits your house in Frome, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.

  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. Structure and building control

    A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.

  4. 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 Frome

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

Frome 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Frome?

We cover Frome (BA11) and nearby places including Westbury, Warminster and Trowbridge, plus the rest of Somerset. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Frome?

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.

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 Frome

All two-storey extension services in Frome · Two-storey rear extensions across Somerset

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

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