Two-storey side extensions in Cwmafan
Our two-storey side extensions service in Cwmafan covers everything: measured survey, design, planning or permitted development checks, structural design, building control and the build itself.
Useful details for planning a two-storey side extension in Cwmafan.
- Postcode districts
- SA12 and SA13
- County / area
- Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, 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
- Briton Ferry (2.6 miles), Neath (3.7 miles), Maesteg (4.5 miles)
- Distance to Swansea
- about 7.8 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 SA12 and SA13 in and around Cwmafan, along with neighbouring Briton Ferry, Neath and Maesteg.
What it costs in Cwmafan
Most of the cost of a two-storey side extension is set by its size and specification. For Cwmafan and the rest of Wales, our guide is £1,890–£2,530 per m² including VAT, so about £79,000–£106,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.
| 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 Cwmafan
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 Cwmafan 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.
Access and services
Side extensions often cover the only route to the back garden, a gas meter, soil pipes or a drain run. We plan bin and bike access, move meters and pipes where needed and check drains early, because these items affect both cost and layout.
How we'd run your project
Visit and first ideas
One of our team visits your house in Cwmafan, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Cwmafan.
Structure and building control
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.
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 Cwmafan
Which postcodes do you cover around Cwmafan?
We cover Cwmafan (SA12 and SA13) and nearby places including Briton Ferry, Neath and Maesteg, plus the rest of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. The first site visit is free.
How much does a two-storey side extension cost in Cwmafan?
Our guide for Wales, which covers Cwmafan, 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.
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Cwmafan?
Cwmafan 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.
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 Cwmafan
- 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 Cwmafan · Two-storey side extensions across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot
Book a free site visit in Cwmafan and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.