Two-storey rear extensions in Gainsborough

Gainsborough: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts: DN21
County / area: Lincolnshire, 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: Retford (8.4 miles), Scunthorpe (14.3 miles), Lincoln (14.4 miles)
Distance to Lincoln: about 14.4 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 Gainsborough (DN21) and the places around it, including Retford (8.4 miles), Scunthorpe (14.3 miles) and Lincoln.

What it costs in Gainsborough

Most of the cost of a two-storey rear extension is set by its size and specification. For Gainsborough 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). 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	£1,800–£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 Gainsborough

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 Gainsborough 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.

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

Look at the house
We start in Gainsborough 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 Gainsborough and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
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
Foundations, walls, floor, roof, windows, then first and second fix. We break through into the house as late as we can.

Questions about two-storey rear extensions in Gainsborough

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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Gainsborough?

We cover Gainsborough (DN21) and nearby places including Retford, Scunthorpe and Lincoln, plus the rest of Lincolnshire. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Gainsborough?

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.

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.

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 Gainsborough

All two-storey extension services in Gainsborough · Two-storey rear extensions across Lincolnshire

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