Dudley · West Midlands

Two-storey side extensions in Dudley

For a two-storey side extension in Dudley, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for the West Midlands.

The basics for Dudley at a glance.

Postcode districts
DY1 and DY2
County / area
West Midlands, England
Price region
West Midlands
Guide price
£86,000–£115,500 (£2,050–£2,750 per m²)
Approval route
Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns
Brierley Hill (2 miles), Tipton (2.1 miles), Oldbury (2.8 miles)
Distance to Birmingham
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 Dudley (DY1 and DY2) and the places around it, including Brierley Hill (2.0 miles), Tipton (2.1 miles) and Oldbury.

What it costs in Dudley

A guide price for Dudley: around £86,000–£115,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). That works out at £2,050–£2,750 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.

SpecPer m²A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,890–£2,530 per m²£79,000–£106,500
Standard£2,050–£2,750 per m²£86,000–£115,500
Premium£2,460–£3,300 per m²£103,500–£138,500

Planning and building regulations in Dudley

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 Dudley 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Free site visit

    We visit your home in Dudley, 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 Dudley and deal with any questions from the planning officer.

  3. Technical design

    We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.

  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 Dudley

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

Dudley 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Dudley?

We cover Dudley (DY1 and DY2) and nearby places including Brierley Hill, Tipton and Oldbury, plus the rest of the West Midlands. The first site visit is free.

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

Our guide for the West Midlands, which covers Dudley, is £2,050–£2,750 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 £86,000–£115,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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 Dudley, including:

Other extensions in Dudley

All two-storey extension services in Dudley · Two-storey side extensions across the West Midlands

Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Dudley.

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