Hirwaun · Mid Glamorgan

Two-storey rear extensions in Hirwaun

Homes in Hirwaun with a bit of space to the side or rear can often take a two-storey rear extension. We'll tell you honestly whether yours can, and what approvals it needs.

Quick reference for homeowners in Hirwaun.

Postcode districts
CF44
County / area
Mid Glamorgan, 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
Aberdare (3.1 miles), Glynneath (4.7 miles), Treorchy (5.5 miles)
Distance to Rhondda
about 6.1 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 postcode district CF44 in and around Hirwaun, along with neighbouring Aberdare, Glynneath and Treorchy.

What it costs in Hirwaun

Our guide for Wales is £1,840–£2,480 per m² including VAT. On a project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space), that puts a two-storey rear extension in Hirwaun at roughly £51,500–£69,500. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.

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 Hirwaun

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 Hirwaun 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Free site visit

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

  2. Design and approvals

    We draw the extension and check it against the rules for Wales, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.

  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 Hirwaun

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

Hirwaun 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 long does a two-storey rear extension take?

Allow 4 to 8 weeks for survey and design, then the approval period (councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks), 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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Hirwaun?

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 Hirwaun?

We cover Hirwaun (CF44) and nearby places including Aberdare, Glynneath and Treorchy, plus the rest of Mid Glamorgan. 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

Nearby towns we cover for two-storey rear extensions:

Other extensions in Hirwaun

All two-storey extension services in Hirwaun · Two-storey rear extensions across Mid Glamorgan

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