Two-storey rear extensions in Tolworth

The basics for Tolworth at a glance.

Postcode districts: KT5
County / area: Greater London, England
Price region: London
Guide price: £67,000–£90,500 (£2,400–£3,240 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: Surbiton (1.1 miles), Hook (1.4 miles), Chessington (1.6 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 Tolworth (KT5) and the places around it, including Surbiton (1.1 miles), Hook (1.4 miles) and Chessington.

What it costs in Tolworth

A guide price for Tolworth: around £67,000–£90,500 for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). That works out at £2,400–£3,240 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.

Spec	Per m²	A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential	£2,210–£2,980 per m²	£62,000–£83,500
Standard	£2,400–£3,240 per m²	£67,000–£90,500
Premium	£2,880–£3,890 per m²	£80,500–£109,000

Planning and building regulations in Tolworth

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 Tolworth 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.

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

Measure and listen
A visit to Tolworth to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Plans, then approval
Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.
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 Tolworth

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

Our guide for London, which covers Tolworth, is £2,400–£3,240 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 £67,000–£90,500. 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 Tolworth?

Tolworth 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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Tolworth?

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.

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 Tolworth

All two-storey extension services in Tolworth · Two-storey rear extensions across Greater London

The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Tolworth and give you an honest view of the options.