Two-storey side extensions in Gillingham

Gillingham: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts: ME3, ME7 and ME8
County / area: Kent, England
Price region: South East England
Guide price: £94,500–£127,000 (£2,260–£3,030 per m²)
Approval route: Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns: Chatham (1.1 miles), Rochester (1.9 miles), Strood (3.1 miles)
Distance to Maidstone: about 8.6 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 Gillingham (ME3, ME7 and ME8) and the places around it, including Chatham (1.1 miles), Rochester (1.9 miles) and Strood.

What it costs in Gillingham

For budgeting in Gillingham, allow around £94,500–£127,000 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 £2,260–£3,030 per m² including VAT for South East England. 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	£2,070–£2,780 per m²	£87,000–£117,000
Standard	£2,260–£3,030 per m²	£94,500–£127,000
Premium	£2,710–£3,630 per m²	£113,500–£152,500

Planning and building regulations in Gillingham

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 Gillingham homes

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.

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

Understand the brief
At your home in Gillingham 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 Gillingham and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Technical design
We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.
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 Gillingham

Which postcodes do you cover around Gillingham?

We cover Gillingham (ME3, ME7 and ME8) and nearby places including Chatham, Rochester and Strood, plus the rest of Kent. 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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Gillingham?

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.

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

Our guide for South East England, which covers Gillingham, is £2,260–£3,030 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 £94,500–£127,000. 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

Close to Gillingham? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Gillingham

All two-storey extension services in Gillingham · Two-storey side extensions across Kent

Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.