Gilwern · Powys

Two-storey rear extensions in Gilwern

A two-storey rear extension is one of the most space-efficient ways to add bedrooms and living space to a house in Gilwern, because the new floors share one set of foundations and one roof.

Useful details for planning a two-storey rear extension in Gilwern.

Postcode districts
NP8
County / area
Powys, 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
Abergavenny (3.3 miles), Blaenavon (3.5 miles), Brynmawr (4.2 miles)
Distance to Newtown
about 48.6 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.

Gilwern sits about 48.6 miles from Newtown. Closer to home, Abergavenny is 3.3 miles away and Blaenavon 3.5 miles.

What it costs in Gilwern

Guide prices for two-storey rear extensions in Wales are around £1,840–£2,480 per m² of new floor space, including VAT. For a typical project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space), that's roughly £51,500–£69,500. Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.

SpecPer m²A 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 Gilwern

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 Gilwern 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.

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. Free site visit

    We visit your home in Gilwern, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.

  2. Choose the approval route

    Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Wales before drawing in detail.

  3. Fixed price in writing

    With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.

  4. Finish and certify

    Second fix, plastering and making good, then building control's final inspection and the completion paperwork.

Questions about two-storey rear extensions in Gilwern

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

Gilwern 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.

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

Our guide for Wales, which covers Gilwern, 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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Gilwern?

We handle it as part of the project. What's needed in Wales: building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency). We prepare the drawings and the engineer's calculations, book the inspections and pass you the completion paperwork at the end.

Which postcodes do you cover around Gilwern?

We cover Gilwern (NP8) and nearby places including Abergavenny, Blaenavon and Brynmawr, plus the rest of Powys. The first site visit is free.

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

Other towns near Gilwern:

Other extensions in Gilwern

All two-storey extension services in Gilwern · Two-storey rear extensions across Powys

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

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