Kettering · Northamptonshire

Two-storey side extensions in Kettering

For a two-storey side extension in Kettering, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for Northamptonshire.

What we'd confirm first for a project in Kettering.

Postcode districts
NN14, NN15 and NN16
County / area
Northamptonshire, England
Price region
East Midlands
Guide price
£84,500–£113,000 (£2,010–£2,700 per m²)
Approval route
Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns
Desborough (5 miles), Wellingborough (6.7 miles), Corby (6.9 miles)
Distance to Northampton
about 12.2 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 postcode districts NN14, NN15 and NN16 in and around Kettering, along with neighbouring Desborough, Wellingborough and Corby.

What it costs in Kettering

Expect a two-storey side extension in Kettering to land somewhere around £84,500–£113,000 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). Our East Midlands guide rate is £2,010–£2,700 per m², including VAT. We'll give you a written design-stage price first, then a fixed build price once the drawings are agreed.

SpecPer m²A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,850–£2,480 per m²£77,500–£104,000
Standard£2,010–£2,700 per m²£84,500–£113,000
Premium£2,410–£3,230 per m²£101,500–£136,000

Planning and building regulations in Kettering

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 Kettering homes

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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Start at your house

    We come to your home in Kettering, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.

  2. Plans, then approval

    Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.

  3. Fixed price in writing

    With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.

  4. Build it

    The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Questions about two-storey side extensions in Kettering

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

Our guide for the East Midlands, which covers Kettering, is £2,010–£2,700 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 £84,500–£113,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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 Kettering?

We cover Kettering (NN14, NN15 and NN16) and nearby places including Desborough, Wellingborough and Corby, plus the rest of Northamptonshire. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Kettering?

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.

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

Nearby towns we cover for two-storey side extensions:

Other extensions in Kettering

All two-storey extension services in Kettering · Two-storey side extensions across Northamptonshire

Book a free site visit in Kettering and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.

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