Derby · Derbyshire

Two-storey side extensions in Derby

Homes in Derby 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.

Useful details for planning a two-storey side extension in Derby.

Postcode districts
DE1, DE3 and DE22
County / area
Derbyshire, England
Price region
East Midlands
Guide price
£84,500–£113,000 (£2,010–£2,700 per m²)
Approval route
Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns
Chaddesden (1.8 miles), Oakwood (Derbyshire) (2.4 miles), Sinfin (2.9 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.

Around Derby we also work in Chaddesden, Oakwood (Derbyshire) and Sinfin, and across the rest of Derbyshire. Postcode districts in and near Derby: DE1, DE3 and DE22.

What it costs in Derby

A guide price for Derby: around £84,500–£113,000 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). That works out at £2,010–£2,700 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. 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£1,850–£2,480 per m²£77,500–£104,000
Standard£2,010–£2,700 per m²£84,500–£113,000
Premium£2,410–£3,230 per m²£101,500–£136,000

Planning and building regulations in Derby

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 Derby homes

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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Measure and listen

    A visit to Derby 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. Choose the approval route

    Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.

  3. Structure and building control

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

  4. Build and hand over

    We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.

Questions about two-storey side extensions in Derby

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 Derby?

Our guide for the East Midlands, which covers Derby, is £2,010–£2,700 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 £84,500–£113,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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

Derby 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Derby?

We cover Derby (DE1, DE3 and DE22) and nearby places including Chaddesden, Oakwood (Derbyshire) and Sinfin, plus the rest of Derbyshire. 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

Other towns near Derby:

Other extensions in Derby

All two-storey extension services in Derby · Two-storey side extensions across Derbyshire

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

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