Cheshunt · Hertfordshire

Two-storey side extensions in Cheshunt

Adding a two-storey side extension in Cheshunt gives you two new rooms stacked on one footprint. Here's how we'd approach it, what it typically costs and the rules that apply in England.

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

Postcode districts
EN7 and EN8
County / area
Hertfordshire, England
Price region
East of England
Guide price
£88,500–£119,000 (£2,110–£2,830 per m²)
Approval route
Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns
Waltham Cross (1 mile), Waltham Abbey (1.4 miles), Enfield Lock (2 miles)
Distance to Watford
about 16 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 districts EN7 and EN8 in and around Cheshunt, along with neighbouring Waltham Cross, Waltham Abbey and Enfield Lock.

What it costs in Cheshunt

Our guide for the East of England is £2,110–£2,830 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 Cheshunt at roughly £88,500–£119,000. Kitchens, bathroom fittings and flooring are priced separately so you can compare like with like.

SpecPer m²A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,940–£2,610 per m²£81,500–£109,500
Standard£2,110–£2,830 per m²£88,500–£119,000
Premium£2,530–£3,400 per m²£106,500–£143,000

Planning and building regulations in Cheshunt

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 Cheshunt 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.

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. Free site visit

    We visit your home in Cheshunt, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.

  2. Get it approved

    Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Cheshunt and deal with any questions from the planning officer.

  3. Structure and building control

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

  4. On site

    One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

Questions about two-storey side extensions in Cheshunt

Which postcodes do you cover around Cheshunt?

We cover Cheshunt (EN7 and EN8) and nearby places including Waltham Cross, Waltham Abbey and Enfield Lock, plus the rest of Hertfordshire. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Cheshunt?

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 Cheshunt?

Cheshunt 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 long does a two-storey side 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.

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

Other towns near Cheshunt:

Other extensions in Cheshunt

All two-storey extension services in Cheshunt · Two-storey side extensions across Hertfordshire

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

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