Two-storey side extensions in Leicestershire

Leicestershire at a glance

Nation: England
Price region: East Midlands
Postcode areas: CV, LE
Towns covered: 23 listed below, plus surrounding villages
Approval route: Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Site visits: Free, no obligation

What a two-storey side extension involves

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.

Leicestershire towns we list: Leicester (LE1), Loughborough (LE11), Hinckley (LE10), Coalville (LE67), Wigston Magna (LE8) and Melton Mowbray (LE13). Every other address in Leicestershire is covered as well.

Guide price in the East Midlands

Using our East Midlands rates, a two-storey side extension with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) comes to about £84,500–£113,000, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². Kitchens, bathroom fittings and flooring are priced separately so you can compare like with like.

Spec	Per m²	Typical project
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

Rules in England

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.

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies, so notices may be needed for work on or near a shared wall or boundary.

Getting the design right

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 work in Leicestershire

Look at the house
We start in Leicestershire with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
On site
One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

Towns we cover in Leicestershire

Two-storey side extensions in Leicestershire: questions

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

In 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). Essential and Premium specs move that by roughly 8% down or 20% up.

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.

Will I need planning permission in Leicestershire?

Leicestershire is in England. Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.

Neighbouring areas

All extension services in Leicestershire · About two-storey side extensions