Two-storey rear extensions in Lichfield

The basics for Lichfield at a glance.

Postcode districts: WS13 and WS14
County / area: Staffordshire, England
Price region: West Midlands
Guide price: £56,000–£75,500 (£2,000–£2,700 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: Burntwood (4.3 miles), Brownhills (5.6 miles), Tamworth (6.3 miles)
Distance to Stoke-on-Trent: about 26.9 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 districts WS13 and WS14 in and around Lichfield, along with neighbouring Burntwood, Brownhills and Tamworth.

What it costs in Lichfield

Most of the cost of a two-storey rear extension is set by its size and specification. For Lichfield and the rest of the West Midlands, our guide is £2,000–£2,700 per m² including VAT, so about £56,000–£75,500 for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.

Spec	Per m²	A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential	£1,840–£2,480 per m²	£51,500–£69,500
Standard	£2,000–£2,700 per m²	£56,000–£75,500
Premium	£2,400–£3,240 per m²	£67,000–£90,500

Planning and building regulations in Lichfield

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 Lichfield homes

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.

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 Lichfield, 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.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
On site
One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

Questions about two-storey rear extensions in Lichfield

Which postcodes do you cover around Lichfield?

We cover Lichfield (WS13 and WS14) and nearby places including Burntwood, Brownhills and Tamworth, plus the rest of Staffordshire. The first site visit is free.

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

Our guide for the West Midlands, which covers Lichfield, is £2,000–£2,700 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 £56,000–£75,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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

Lichfield 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 Lichfield? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Lichfield

All two-storey extension services in Lichfield · Two-storey rear extensions across Staffordshire

Want a figure first? Try our guide price tool, then book a free visit to firm it up.