Llandaff · Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

Two-storey side extensions in Llandaff

Adding a two-storey side extension in Llandaff 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 Wales.

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

Postcode districts
CF5
County / area
Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Price region
Wales
Guide price
£79,000–£106,500 (£1,890–£2,530 per m²)
Approval route
Can be permitted development in Wales if it is 10.5 m from the side boundary, set back 1 m from the front and doesn't widen the house by more than half; otherwise planning permission.
Nearest towns
Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) (1.3 miles), Cardiff (1.9 miles), Rhiwbina (2.4 miles)
Distance to Cardiff
about 1.9 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 Llandaff (CF5) and the places around it, including Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan) (1.3 miles), Cardiff (1.9 miles) and Rhiwbina.

What it costs in Llandaff

Expect a two-storey side extension in Llandaff to land somewhere around £79,000–£106,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). Our Wales guide rate is £1,890–£2,530 per m², including VAT. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

SpecPer m²A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,740–£2,330 per m²£73,000–£98,000
Standard£1,890–£2,530 per m²£79,000–£106,500
Premium£2,260–£3,040 per m²£95,000–£127,500

Planning and building regulations in Llandaff

In Wales, a two-storey side extension can be permitted development if it is at least 10.5 m from the boundary opposite the side wall, set back at least 1 m from the front of the house and does not increase the house's widest width by more than 50%. If it fails any test, or the house is in a protected area, a householder application costs £585.

Approval in Wales: Householder planning application: £585. Councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks.

Building regulations: Building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency).

Design points for Llandaff 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Start at your house

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

  2. Get it approved

    Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Llandaff and deal with any questions from the planning officer.

  3. Engineer it

    Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.

  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 Llandaff

How long does a two-storey side extension take?

Allow 4 to 8 weeks for survey and design, then the approval period (councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks), 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 Llandaff?

We cover Llandaff (CF5) and nearby places including Whitchurch (Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan), Cardiff and Rhiwbina, plus the rest of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. The first site visit is free.

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Llandaff?

Llandaff is in Wales, so Wales planning rules apply. Can be permitted development in Wales if it is 10.5 m from the side boundary, set back 1 m from the front and doesn't widen the house by more than half; otherwise planning permission. 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 Llandaff?

Our guide for Wales, which covers Llandaff, is £1,890–£2,530 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 £79,000–£106,500. 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

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in Llandaff

All two-storey extension services in Llandaff · Two-storey side extensions across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

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

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