Two-storey side extensions in Radcliffe
Want to stay in Radcliffe but need more space? A two-storey side extension adds floor area on two levels without giving up much garden. Here's what's involved.
The basics for Radcliffe at a glance.
- Postcode districts
- M26
- County / area
- Greater Manchester, 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
- Whitefield (1.3 miles), Little Lever (2.2 miles), Prestwich (2.6 miles)
- Distance to Manchester
- about 6.6 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.
Radcliffe sits about 6.6 miles from Manchester. Closer to home, Whitefield is 1.3 miles away and Little Lever 2.2 miles.
What it costs in Radcliffe
For budgeting in Radcliffe, allow around £82,000–£109,500 for a two-storey side extension with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). That's based on £1,950–£2,610 per m² including VAT for North West England. 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 | £1,790–£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 Radcliffe
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 Radcliffe 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
Understand the brief
At your home in Radcliffe we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in England, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Structure and building control
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.
Build and hand over
We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.
Questions about two-storey side extensions in Radcliffe
How much does a two-storey side extension cost in Radcliffe?
Our guide for North West England, which covers Radcliffe, 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.
Which postcodes do you cover around Radcliffe?
We cover Radcliffe (M26) and nearby places including Whitefield, Little Lever and Prestwich, plus the rest of Greater Manchester. The first site visit is free.
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Radcliffe?
Radcliffe 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 Radcliffe?
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
Other towns near Radcliffe:
Other extensions in Radcliffe
- 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 Radcliffe · Two-storey side extensions across Greater Manchester
Book a free site visit in Radcliffe and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.