Lincoln · Lincolnshire

Two-storey side extensions in Lincoln

Adding a two-storey side extension in Lincoln gives you two new rooms stacked on one footprint. Here's how we'd approach it, what it typically costs and the rules that apply in England.

Useful details for planning a two-storey side extension in Lincoln.

Postcode districts
LN1, LN2, LN3, LN4, LN5 and LN6
County / area
Lincolnshire, 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
Gainsborough (14.4 miles), Newark-on-Trent (16 miles), Sleaford (16.7 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 LN1, LN2, LN3, LN4, LN5 and LN6 in and around Lincoln, along with neighbouring Gainsborough, Newark-on-Trent and Sleaford.

What it costs in Lincoln

In the East Midlands, which includes Lincoln, we'd expect a two-storey side extension to cost around £84,500–£113,000 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), or £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 Lincoln

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 Lincoln 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Understand the brief

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

  2. Drawings, then consent

    We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.

  3. Structure and building control

    A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.

  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 Lincoln

Which postcodes do you cover around Lincoln?

We cover Lincoln (LN1, LN2, LN3, LN4, LN5 and LN6) and nearby places including Gainsborough, Newark-on-Trent and Sleaford, plus the rest of Lincolnshire. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Lincoln?

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.

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

Our guide for the East Midlands, which covers Lincoln, 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.

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 Lincoln

All two-storey extension services in Lincoln · Two-storey side extensions across Lincolnshire

Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Lincoln.

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