Two-storey side extensions in Great Sankey
Thinking about a two-storey side extension in Great Sankey? We design it, take it through the approvals it needs and build it, with one team responsible from the first visit to the final certificate.
Great Sankey: the key facts for this kind of project.
- Postcode districts
- WA5
- County / area
- Cheshire, England
- Price region
- North West England
- Guide price
- £82,000–£109,500 (£1,950–£2,610 per m²)
- Approval route
- Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
- Nearest towns
- Warrington (2.5 miles), Newton-le-Willows (4.3 miles), Widnes (4.4 miles)
- Distance to Warrington
- about 2.5 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.
Around Great Sankey we also work in Warrington, Newton-le-Willows and Widnes, and across the rest of Cheshire. Postcode district in and near Great Sankey: WA5.
What it costs in Great Sankey
In North West England, which includes Great Sankey, we'd expect a two-storey side extension to cost around £82,000–£109,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), or £1,950–£2,610 per m² including VAT. Kitchens, bathroom fittings and flooring are priced separately so you can compare like with like.
| Spec | Per m² | A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,790–£2,400 per m² | £75,500–£101,000 |
| Standard | £1,950–£2,610 per m² | £82,000–£109,500 |
| Premium | £2,340–£3,130 per m² | £98,000–£131,500 |
Planning and building regulations in Great Sankey
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 Sankey 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
Free site visit
We visit your home in Great Sankey, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Technical design
We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.
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 Sankey
Who handles building regulations for a project in Great Sankey?
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.
Which postcodes do you cover around Great Sankey?
We cover Great Sankey (WA5) and nearby places including Warrington, Newton-le-Willows and Widnes, plus the rest of Cheshire. 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.
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Great Sankey?
Great Sankey 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.
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 Great Sankey:
Other extensions in Great Sankey
- 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 Sankey · Two-storey side extensions across Cheshire
Tell us about your house in Great Sankey and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.