Two-storey rear extensions in Nottingham

What we'd confirm first for a project in Nottingham.

Postcode districts: NG1 and NG3
County / area: Nottinghamshire, 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: Basford (1.6 miles), West Bridgford (1.9 miles), Arnold (3.3 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.

Around Nottingham we also work in Basford, West Bridgford and Arnold, and across the rest of Nottinghamshire. Postcode districts in and near Nottingham: NG1 and NG3.

What it costs in Nottingham

For budgeting in Nottingham, allow around £55,000–£74,000 for a two-storey rear extension with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). That's based on £1,960–£2,650 per m² including VAT for the East Midlands. We'll give you a written design-stage price first, then a fixed build price once the drawings are agreed.

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 Nottingham

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 Nottingham 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

Free site visit
We visit your home in Nottingham, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
Design and approvals
We draw the extension and check it against the rules for England, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.
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 Nottingham

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

Nottingham 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 Nottingham?

We cover Nottingham (NG1 and NG3) and nearby places including Basford, West Bridgford and Arnold, plus the rest of Nottinghamshire. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Nottingham?

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 Nottingham

All two-storey extension services in Nottingham · Two-storey rear extensions across Nottinghamshire

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