Two-storey side extensions in Dunstable

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

Postcode districts: LU5 and LU6
County / area: Bedfordshire, 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: Luton (4.5 miles), Leighton Buzzard (6.2 miles), Flitwick (8.2 miles)
Distance to Luton: about 4.5 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 Dunstable (LU5 and LU6) and the places around it, including Luton (4.5 miles), Leighton Buzzard (6.2 miles) and Flitwick.

What it costs in Dunstable

For budgeting in Dunstable, allow around £88,500–£119,000 for a two-storey side extension with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). That's based on £2,110–£2,830 per m² including VAT for the East of England. 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	£1,940–£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 Dunstable

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 Dunstable 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

Start at your house
We come to your home in Dunstable, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Dunstable.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
Build and sign-off
Vetted teams working under S&K build the extension, and we arrange the building control completion certificate at the end.

Questions about two-storey side extensions in Dunstable

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

Dunstable 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 Dunstable?

We cover Dunstable (LU5 and LU6) and nearby places including Luton, Leighton Buzzard and Flitwick, plus the rest of Bedfordshire. The first site visit is free.

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 Dunstable?

Our guide for the East of England, which covers Dunstable, 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.

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 Dunstable, including:

Other extensions in Dunstable

All two-storey extension services in Dunstable · Two-storey side extensions across Bedfordshire

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