Abertillery · Gwent

Two-storey side extensions in Abertillery

Homes in Abertillery with a bit of space to the side or rear can often take a two-storey side extension. We'll tell you honestly whether yours can, and what approvals it needs.

Before you start in Abertillery, here's what applies.

Postcode districts
NP13
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
Crumlin (Gwent) (3.6 miles), Blaenavon (3.7 miles), Pontypool (4.3 miles)
Distance to Newport (Gwent)
about 11.4 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.

We cover postcode district NP13 in and around Abertillery, along with neighbouring Crumlin (Gwent), Blaenavon and Pontypool.

What it costs in Abertillery

A guide price for Abertillery: around £79,000–£106,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). That works out at £1,890–£2,530 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.

SpecPer m²A 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 Abertillery

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 Abertillery homes

Set-down and set-back

Councils usually want a two-storey side extension to look subordinate to the house. Setting the front wall back from the main front and dropping the ridge slightly below the main roof helps it read as an addition, and is often expected in local design guidance.

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

  1. Measure and listen

    A visit to Abertillery to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.

  2. Plans, then approval

    Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.

  3. Fixed price in writing

    With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.

  4. Build it

    The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Questions about two-storey side extensions in Abertillery

Who handles building regulations for a project in Abertillery?

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.

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Abertillery?

Abertillery is in Wales, so Wales planning rules apply. 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. If in doubt, a lawful development certificate or a planning application gives you certainty before you build.

How much does a two-storey side extension cost in Abertillery?

Our guide for Wales, which covers Abertillery, 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.

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.

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

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in Abertillery

All two-storey extension services in Abertillery · Two-storey side extensions across Gwent

Want a figure first? Try our guide price tool, then book a free visit to firm it up.

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