Two-storey side extensions in Abergavenny
For a two-storey side extension in Abergavenny, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for Gwent.
Before you start in Abergavenny, here's what applies.
- Postcode districts
- NP7
- County / area
- Gwent, Wales
- Price region
- Wales
- Guide price
- £79,000–£106,500 (£1,890–£2,530 per m²)
- Approval route
- Can be permitted development in Wales if it is 10.5 m from the side boundary, set back 1 m from the front and doesn't widen the house by more than half; otherwise planning permission.
- Nearest towns
- Gilwern (3.3 miles), Blaenavon (4.4 miles), Brynmawr (7.2 miles)
- Distance to Newport (Gwent)
- about 16.1 miles
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
About a two-storey side extension
A two-storey side extension is a new two-floor addition built into the space beside your house, often over a driveway or side passage. It typically adds one or two bedrooms upstairs and a utility, study or larger kitchen below, without giving up rear garden.
Abergavenny sits about 16.1 miles from Newport (Gwent). Closer to home, Gilwern is 3.3 miles away and Blaenavon 4.4 miles.
What it costs in Abergavenny
In Wales, which includes Abergavenny, we'd expect a two-storey side extension to cost around £79,000–£106,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), or £1,890–£2,530 per m² including VAT. 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 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,740–£2,330 per m² | £73,000–£98,000 |
| Standard | £1,890–£2,530 per m² | £79,000–£106,500 |
| Premium | £2,260–£3,040 per m² | £95,000–£127,500 |
Planning and building regulations in Abergavenny
In Wales, a two-storey side extension can be permitted development if it is at least 10.5 m from the boundary opposite the side wall, set back at least 1 m from the front of the house and does not increase the house's widest width by more than 50%. If it fails any test, or the house is in a protected area, a householder application costs £585.
Approval in Wales: Householder planning application: £585. Councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks.
Building regulations: Building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency).
Design points for Abergavenny homes
Avoiding a terracing effect
Where semi-detached houses sit close together, side extensions on neighbouring houses can join up and turn a row of pairs into a terrace. Many councils ask for a gap to the boundary at first floor to stop this, so we check local guidance before fixing the width.
Side windows, boundaries and gutters
Upstairs windows in the side wall face the neighbour, so they are usually obscure-glazed and fixed, or left out. Building close to the boundary also raises questions about foundations, overhanging gutters and access for maintenance, so we design the eaves and gutter to stay within your land.
How we'd run your project
Free site visit
We visit your home in Abergavenny, 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 Wales, 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.
Finish and certify
Second fix, plastering and making good, then building control's final inspection and the completion paperwork.
Questions about two-storey side extensions in Abergavenny
Which postcodes do you cover around Abergavenny?
We cover Abergavenny (NP7) and nearby places including Gilwern, Blaenavon and Brynmawr, plus the rest of Gwent. The first site visit is free.
Who handles building regulations for a project in Abergavenny?
We handle it as part of the project. What's needed in Wales: building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency). 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 side extension take?
Allow 4 to 8 weeks for survey and design, then the approval period (councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks), 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.
How much does a two-storey side extension cost in Abergavenny?
Our guide for Wales, which covers Abergavenny, is £1,890–£2,530 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) comes to about £79,000–£106,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.
Can I build a two-storey side extension over my driveway?
Yes, if the drive is wide enough for a useful room and the council accepts the design. You may lose off-road parking, which some councils weigh up, and the foundations need to suit the ground below. We check parking, drains and meter positions at the free site visit before any drawings are prepared.
Nearby
Nearby towns we cover for two-storey side extensions:
Other extensions in Abergavenny
- Rear
- 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 Abergavenny · Two-storey side extensions across Gwent
Want a figure first? Try our guide price tool, then book a free visit to firm it up.