Two-storey side extensions in Hereford
Want to stay in Hereford but need more space? A two-storey side extension adds floor area on two levels without giving up much garden. Here's what's involved.
Before you start in Hereford, here's what applies.
- Postcode districts
- HR1 and HR4
- County / area
- Herefordshire, 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
- Belmont (Herefordshire) (1.5 miles), Ivington (10.6 miles), Ross-on-Wye (11.6 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.
Around Hereford we also work in Belmont (Herefordshire), Ivington and Ross-on-Wye, and across the rest of Herefordshire. Postcode districts in and near Hereford: HR1 and HR4.
What it costs in Hereford
Expect a two-storey side extension in Hereford to land somewhere around £86,000–£115,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). Our West Midlands guide rate is £2,050–£2,750 per m², including VAT. Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.
| 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 Hereford
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 Hereford homes
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.
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 Hereford, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Hereford.
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 Hereford
Who handles building regulations for a project in Hereford?
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 Hereford?
We cover Hereford (HR1 and HR4) and nearby places including Belmont (Herefordshire), Ivington and Ross-on-Wye, plus the rest of Herefordshire. 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 Hereford?
Our guide for the West Midlands, which covers Hereford, 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 Hereford, including:
Other extensions in Hereford
- 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 Hereford · Two-storey side extensions across Herefordshire
Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Hereford.