Maghull · Merseyside

Two-storey side extensions in Maghull

A two-storey side extension is one of the most space-efficient ways to add bedrooms and living space to a house in Maghull, because the new floors share one set of foundations and one roof.

Maghull: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts
L29 and L31
County / area
Merseyside, England
Price region
North West England
Guide price
£82,000–£109,500 (£1,950–£2,610 per m²)
Approval route
Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns
Kirkby (3.1 miles), Fazakerley (3.8 miles), Litherland (4 miles)
Distance to Liverpool
about 7.5 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 L29 and L31 in and around Maghull, along with neighbouring Kirkby, Fazakerley and Litherland.

What it costs in Maghull

Our guide for North West England is £1,950–£2,610 per m² including VAT. On a project with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), that puts a two-storey side extension in Maghull at roughly £82,000–£109,500. Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.

SpecPer m²A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,790–£2,400 per m²£75,500–£101,000
Standard£1,950–£2,610 per m²£82,000–£109,500
Premium£2,340–£3,130 per m²£98,000–£131,500

Planning and building regulations in Maghull

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 Maghull 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. Measure and listen

    A visit to Maghull to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.

  2. Choose the approval route

    Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.

  3. Structure and building control

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

  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 Maghull

Which postcodes do you cover around Maghull?

We cover Maghull (L29 and L31) and nearby places including Kirkby, Fazakerley and Litherland, plus the rest of Merseyside. The first site visit is free.

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

Maghull 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 Maghull?

Our guide for North West England, which covers Maghull, is £1,950–£2,610 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 £82,000–£109,500. 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 Maghull?

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

Nearby towns we cover for two-storey side extensions:

Other extensions in Maghull

All two-storey extension services in Maghull · Two-storey side extensions across Merseyside

Book a free site visit in Maghull and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.

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