Two-storey side extensions in Maidstone

Maidstone: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts: ME14, ME15, ME16, ME17, ME18 and TN12
County / area: Kent, England
Price region: South East England
Guide price: £94,500–£127,000 (£2,260–£3,030 per m²)
Approval route: Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns: Snodland (5.4 miles), Chatham (7.8 miles), Rochester (8.4 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.

Around Maidstone we also work in Snodland, Chatham and Rochester, and across the rest of Kent. Postcode districts in and near Maidstone: ME14, ME15, ME16, ME17, ME18 and TN12.

What it costs in Maidstone

Our guide for South East England is £2,260–£3,030 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 Maidstone at roughly £94,500–£127,000. 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	£2,070–£2,780 per m²	£87,000–£117,000
Standard	£2,260–£3,030 per m²	£94,500–£127,000
Premium	£2,710–£3,630 per m²	£113,500–£152,500

Planning and building regulations in Maidstone

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 Maidstone homes

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.

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.

How we'd run your project

Look at the house
We start in Maidstone with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Maidstone and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
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 Maidstone

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

Maidstone 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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Maidstone?

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 Maidstone?

Our guide for South East England, which covers Maidstone, is £2,260–£3,030 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 £94,500–£127,000. 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

We also cover places near Maidstone, including:

Other extensions in Maidstone

All two-storey extension services in Maidstone · Two-storey side extensions across Kent

Want a figure first? Try our guide price tool, then book a free visit to firm it up.