Two-storey side extensions in Chigwell

What we'd confirm first for a project in Chigwell.

Postcode districts: IG7 and IG10
County / area: Essex, 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: Buckhurst Hill (1.9 miles), Woodford Green (2.4 miles), Barkingside (2.7 miles)
Distance to Southend-on-Sea: about 28 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.

Chigwell sits about 28.0 miles from Southend-on-Sea. Closer to home, Buckhurst Hill is 1.9 miles away and Woodford Green 2.4 miles.

What it costs in Chigwell

Guide prices for two-storey side extensions in the East of England are around £2,110–£2,830 per m² of new floor space, including VAT. For a typical project with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), that's roughly £88,500–£119,000. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.

Spec	Per m²	A 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 Chigwell

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 Chigwell homes

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.

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

Understand the brief
At your home in Chigwell we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Chigwell and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.
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 Chigwell

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.

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

Our guide for the East of England, which covers Chigwell, is £2,110–£2,830 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 £88,500–£119,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Chigwell?

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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Chigwell?

We cover Chigwell (IG7 and IG10) and nearby places including Buckhurst Hill, Woodford Green and Barkingside, plus the rest of Essex. 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

We also cover places near Chigwell, including:

Other extensions in Chigwell

All two-storey extension services in Chigwell · Two-storey side extensions across Essex

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