Two-storey rear extensions in Speke
Homes in Speke 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.
Speke: the key facts for this kind of project.
- Postcode districts
- L24
- County / area
- Merseyside, England
- Price region
- North West England
- Guide price
- £53,000–£72,000 (£1,900–£2,560 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
- Halewood (1.4 miles), Hunts Cross (1.5 miles), Garston (2.5 miles)
- Distance to Liverpool
- about 7.4 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.
Around Speke we also work in Halewood, Hunts Cross and Garston, and across the rest of Merseyside. Postcode district in and near Speke: L24.
What it costs in Speke
Our guide for North West England is £1,900–£2,560 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 Speke at roughly £53,000–£72,000. These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.
| Spec | Per m² | A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,750–£2,360 per m² | £49,000–£66,000 |
| Standard | £1,900–£2,560 per m² | £53,000–£72,000 |
| Premium | £2,280–£3,080 per m² | £64,000–£86,000 |
Planning and building regulations in Speke
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 Speke homes
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.
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 Speke, 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.
Technical design
We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.
Build and hand over
We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.
Questions about two-storey rear extensions in Speke
How much does a two-storey rear extension cost in Speke?
Our guide for North West England, which covers Speke, is £1,900–£2,560 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 £53,000–£72,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.
Which postcodes do you cover around Speke?
We cover Speke (L24) and nearby places including Halewood, Hunts Cross and Garston, plus the rest of Merseyside. The first site visit is free.
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey rear extension in Speke?
Speke 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
Other towns near Speke:
Other extensions in Speke
- Side
- Wraparound
- Part two-storey
- Over a garage
- First floor
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Speke · Two-storey rear extensions across Merseyside
Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.