Two-storey side extensions in Great Malvern
Homes in Great Malvern 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.
Before you start in Great Malvern, here's what applies.
- Postcode districts
- WR8 and WR14
- County / area
- Worcestershire, 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
- Ledbury (6.7 miles), Worcester (7 miles), Bromyard (9.5 miles)
- Distance to Worcester
- about 7 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 Great Malvern (WR8 and WR14) and the places around it, including Ledbury (6.7 miles), Worcester (7.0 miles) and Bromyard.
What it costs in Great Malvern
Guide prices for two-storey side extensions in the West Midlands are around £2,050–£2,750 per m² of new floor space, including VAT. For a typical project with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), that's roughly £86,000–£115,500. The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.
| Spec | Per m² | A 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 Great Malvern
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 Great Malvern 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.
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
Look at the house
We start in Great Malvern with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.
Build
Foundations, walls, floor, roof, windows, then first and second fix. We break through into the house as late as we can.
Questions about two-storey side extensions in Great Malvern
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Great Malvern?
Great Malvern 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 Great Malvern?
We cover Great Malvern (WR8 and WR14) and nearby places including Ledbury, Worcester and Bromyard, plus the rest of Worcestershire. The first site visit is free.
How much does a two-storey side extension cost in Great Malvern?
Our guide for the West Midlands, which covers Great Malvern, 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
Close to Great Malvern? We work across the area, including:
Other extensions in Great Malvern
- 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 Great Malvern · Two-storey side extensions across Worcestershire
Book a free site visit in Great Malvern and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.