Leicester Forest East · Leicestershire

Two-storey side extensions in Leicester Forest East

We plan and build two-storey side extensions for homeowners in Leicester Forest East and nearby. Every project starts with a free visit and a design stage priced in writing before any work begins.

Useful details for planning a two-storey side extension in Leicester Forest East.

Postcode districts
LE3
County / area
Leicestershire, 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
Kirby Muxloe (0.5 miles), Braunstone (1.7 miles), Glenfield (1.8 miles)
Distance to Leicester
about 3.8 miles
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a two-storey side extension

A two-storey side extension suits a detached or semi-detached house with a side garden, driveway or garage wide enough to build on. You get a design that sits comfortably on the street, a planning application or permitted development check depending on your nation, structural design, building regulations approval and the build itself. We manage the whole process, and the work is carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

We cover postcode district LE3 in and around Leicester Forest East, along with neighbouring Kirby Muxloe, Braunstone and Glenfield.

What it costs in Leicester Forest East

Most of the cost of a two-storey side extension is set by its size and specification. For Leicester Forest East and the rest of the East Midlands, our guide is £2,010–£2,700 per m² including VAT, so about £84,500–£113,000 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.

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 Leicester Forest East

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 Leicester Forest East homes

Access and services

Side extensions often cover the only route to the back garden, a gas meter, soil pipes or a drain run. We plan bin and bike access, move meters and pipes where needed and check drains early, because these items affect both cost and layout.

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

  1. Understand the brief

    At your home in Leicester Forest East we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.

  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. Finish and certify

    Second fix, plastering and making good, then building control's final inspection and the completion paperwork.

Questions about two-storey side extensions in Leicester Forest East

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 Leicester Forest East?

Leicester Forest East 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 much does a two-storey side extension cost in Leicester Forest East?

Our guide for the East Midlands, which covers Leicester Forest East, 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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Leicester Forest East?

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

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in Leicester Forest East

All two-storey extension services in Leicester Forest East · Two-storey side extensions across Leicestershire

Tell us about your house in Leicester Forest East and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.

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