Two-storey rear extensions in Stourbridge
Want to stay in Stourbridge but need more space? A two-storey rear extension adds floor area on two levels without giving up much garden. Here's what's involved.
Quick reference for homeowners in Stourbridge.
- Postcode districts
- DY8 and DY9
- County / area
- West Midlands, 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
- Brierley Hill (2 miles), Kingswinford (3.1 miles), Dudley (3.9 miles)
- Distance to Birmingham
- about 10.4 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 Stourbridge we also work in Brierley Hill, Kingswinford and Dudley, and across the rest of the West Midlands. Postcode districts in and near Stourbridge: DY8 and DY9.
What it costs in Stourbridge
Expect a two-storey rear extension in Stourbridge to land somewhere around £56,000–£75,500 for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). Our West Midlands guide rate is £2,000–£2,700 per m², including VAT. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.
| 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 Stourbridge
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 Stourbridge 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
Understand the brief
At your home in Stourbridge we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Stourbridge and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
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 Stourbridge
How long does a two-storey rear extension take?
Allow 4 to 8 weeks for survey and design, then the approval period (councils should decide householder applications within 8 weeks of validation), 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 Stourbridge?
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.
Which postcodes do you cover around Stourbridge?
We cover Stourbridge (DY8 and DY9) and nearby places including Brierley Hill, Kingswinford and Dudley, plus the rest of the West Midlands. The first site visit is free.
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.
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 Stourbridge
- 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 Stourbridge · Two-storey rear extensions across the West Midlands
The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Stourbridge and give you an honest view of the options.