Abram · Greater Manchester

Two-storey side extensions in Abram

A two-storey side extension is one of the most space-efficient ways to add bedrooms and living space to a house in Abram, because the new floors share one set of foundations and one roof.

Quick reference for homeowners in Abram.

Postcode districts
WN2
County / area
Greater Manchester, England
Price region
North West England
Guide price
£82,000–£109,500 (£1,950–£2,610 per m²)
Approval route
Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns
Hindley (1.8 miles), Ince-in-Makerfield (2 miles), Golborne (2.2 miles)
Distance to Manchester
about 14.7 miles
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a two-storey side extension

A two-storey side extension suits a detached or semi-detached house with a side garden, driveway or garage wide enough to build on. You get a design that sits comfortably on the street, a planning application or permitted development check depending on your nation, structural design, building regulations approval and the build itself. We manage the whole process, and the work is carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

Abram sits about 14.7 miles from Manchester. Closer to home, Hindley is 1.8 miles away and Ince-in-Makerfield 2.0 miles.

What it costs in Abram

Our guide for North West England is £1,950–£2,610 per m² including VAT. On a project with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), that puts a two-storey side extension in Abram at roughly £82,000–£109,500. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.

SpecPer m²A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,790–£2,400 per m²£75,500–£101,000
Standard£1,950–£2,610 per m²£82,000–£109,500
Premium£2,340–£3,130 per m²£98,000–£131,500

Planning and building regulations in Abram

In England, a two-storey side extension always needs householder planning permission, because permitted development only allows single-storey extensions beyond a side wall. The fee is £548 (or £575 for applications made from 8 December 2026), and councils should decide within 8 weeks of validation. Expect them to look at set-back, roof height, gaps to the boundary and the effect on neighbours.

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 Abram homes

Matching the ridge and roof

A hipped house usually needs a hipped extension roof, and a gabled house a gable. Matching the pitch, tiles, ridge detail and brick bond is what makes a side extension look original rather than added, and councils look closely at it on a front-facing addition.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Measure and listen

    A visit to Abram 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. Design and approvals

    We draw the extension and check it against the rules for England, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.

  3. Structure and building control

    A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.

  4. 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 Abram

Who handles building regulations for a project in Abram?

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.

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

Abram is in England, so England planning rules apply. Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side. 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 Abram?

Our guide for North West England, which covers Abram, is £1,950–£2,610 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 £82,000–£109,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Which postcodes do you cover around Abram?

We cover Abram (WN2) and nearby places including Hindley, Ince-in-Makerfield and Golborne, plus the rest of Greater Manchester. The first site visit is free.

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

Close to Abram? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Abram

All two-storey extension services in Abram · Two-storey side extensions across Greater Manchester

Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.

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