Two-storey rear extensions in West Wickham

West Wickham: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts: BR4
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: Shirley (Greater London) (1.6 miles), Shortlands (2.4 miles), Beckenham (2.9 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 West Wickham we also work in Shirley (Greater London), Shortlands and Beckenham, and across the rest of Greater London. Postcode district in and near West Wickham: BR4.

What it costs in West Wickham

A guide price for West Wickham: 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%. Design fees, structural calculations and approval fees are separate and listed on our prices page.

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 West Wickham

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 West Wickham 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

Look at the house
We start in West Wickham with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
Plans, then approval
Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.
Price it properly
Once the engineer's calculations are in, we fix the build price in writing, with a clear list of what's included.
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 West Wickham

Who handles building regulations for a project in West Wickham?

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.

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.

Which postcodes do you cover around West Wickham?

We cover West Wickham (BR4) and nearby places including Shirley (Greater London), Shortlands and Beckenham, plus the rest of Greater London. 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

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in West Wickham

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

Book a free site visit in West Wickham and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.