Two-storey side extensions in Seaham

The basics for Seaham at a glance.

Postcode districts: SR7
County / area: County Durham, England
Price region: North East England
Guide price: £77,500–£104,000 (£1,840–£2,480 per m²)
Approval route: Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns: Ryhope (2.4 miles), Hetton-le-Hole (4.4 miles), Houghton-le-Spring (4.7 miles)
Distance to Darlington: about 23.2 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a two-storey side extension

A two-storey side extension suits a detached or semi-detached house with a side garden, driveway or garage wide enough to build on. You get a design that sits comfortably on the street, a planning application or permitted development check depending on your nation, structural design, building regulations approval and the build itself. We manage the whole process, and the work is carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

We cover postcode district SR7 in and around Seaham, along with neighbouring Ryhope, Hetton-le-Hole and Houghton-le-Spring.

What it costs in Seaham

Most of the cost of a two-storey side extension is set by its size and specification. For Seaham and the rest of North East England, our guide is £1,840–£2,480 per m² including VAT, so about £77,500–£104,000 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.

Spec	Per m²	A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space)
Essential	£1,700–£2,280 per m²	£71,500–£95,500
Standard	£1,840–£2,480 per m²	£77,500–£104,000
Premium	£2,210–£2,970 per m²	£93,000–£124,500

Planning and building regulations in Seaham

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 Seaham homes

Set-down and set-back

Councils usually want a two-storey side extension to look subordinate to the house. Setting the front wall back from the main front and dropping the ridge slightly below the main roof helps it read as an addition, and is often expected in local design guidance.

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

Understand the brief
At your home in Seaham we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Seaham.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
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 Seaham

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

Our guide for North East England, which covers Seaham, is £1,840–£2,480 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 £77,500–£104,000. 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 Seaham?

We cover Seaham (SR7) and nearby places including Ryhope, Hetton-le-Hole and Houghton-le-Spring, plus the rest of County Durham. The first site visit is free.

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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Seaham?

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 Seaham, including:

Other extensions in Seaham

All two-storey extension services in Seaham · Two-storey side extensions across County Durham

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