Two-storey side extensions in Lofthouse

The basics for Lofthouse at a glance.

Postcode districts: LS26 and WF3
County / area: West Yorkshire, England
Price region: Yorkshire and the Humber
Guide price: £79,000–£106,500 (£1,890–£2,530 per m²)
Approval route: Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns: Wakefield (3.2 miles), Morley (4.2 miles), Ossett (4.8 miles)
Distance to Leeds: about 5.1 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.

Lofthouse sits about 5.1 miles from Leeds. Closer to home, Wakefield is 3.2 miles away and Morley 4.2 miles.

What it costs in Lofthouse

Using our Yorkshire and the Humber 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 £79,000–£106,500, 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	A 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 Lofthouse

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 Lofthouse 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

Start at your house
We come to your home in Lofthouse, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Lofthouse.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
On site
One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

Questions about two-storey side extensions in Lofthouse

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

Lofthouse 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Lofthouse?

We cover Lofthouse (LS26 and WF3) and nearby places including Wakefield, Morley and Ossett, plus the rest of West Yorkshire. The first site visit is free.

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

Our guide for Yorkshire and the Humber, which covers Lofthouse, 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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Lofthouse?

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

We also cover places near Lofthouse, including:

Other extensions in Lofthouse

All two-storey extension services in Lofthouse · Two-storey side extensions across West Yorkshire

The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Lofthouse and give you an honest view of the options.