Two-storey side extensions in Porthcawl
For a two-storey side extension in Porthcawl, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for Mid Glamorgan.
Porthcawl: the key facts for this kind of project.
- Postcode districts
- CF36
- County / area
- Mid 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
- Pyle (2.6 miles), Bridgend (5.7 miles), Aberkenfig (6.3 miles)
- Distance to Rhondda
- about 16.6 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 district CF36 in and around Porthcawl, along with neighbouring Pyle, Bridgend and Aberkenfig.
What it costs in Porthcawl
Our guide for Wales is £1,890–£2,530 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 Porthcawl at roughly £79,000–£106,500. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.
| 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 Porthcawl
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 Porthcawl 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
Visit and first ideas
One of our team visits your house in Porthcawl, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Wales, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
Build and sign-off
Vetted teams working under S&K build the extension, and we arrange the building control completion certificate at the end.
Questions about two-storey side extensions in Porthcawl
Which postcodes do you cover around Porthcawl?
We cover Porthcawl (CF36) and nearby places including Pyle, Bridgend and Aberkenfig, plus the rest of Mid Glamorgan. The first site visit is free.
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Porthcawl?
Porthcawl 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 Porthcawl?
Our guide for Wales, which covers Porthcawl, 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.
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.
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
Close to Porthcawl? We work across the area, including:
Other extensions in Porthcawl
- Rear
- Wraparound
- Part two-storey
- Over a garage
- First floor
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Porthcawl · Two-storey side extensions across Mid Glamorgan
Want a figure first? Try our guide price tool, then book a free visit to firm it up.