Two-storey side extensions in Shildon
Want to stay in Shildon 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.
What we'd confirm first for a project in Shildon.
- Postcode districts
- DL4
- 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
- Bishop Auckland (2.2 miles), Newton Aycliffe (3 miles), Spennymoor (5 miles)
- Distance to Darlington
- about 8.2 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 DL4 in and around Shildon, along with neighbouring Bishop Auckland, Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor.
What it costs in Shildon
In North East England, which includes Shildon, we'd expect a two-storey side extension to cost around £77,500–£104,000 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), or £1,840–£2,480 per m² including VAT. These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.
| 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 Shildon
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 Shildon homes
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.
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
Measure and listen
A visit to Shildon to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Plans, then approval
Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
Build
Foundations, walls, floor, roof, windows, then first and second fix. We break through into the house as late as we can.
Questions about two-storey side extensions in Shildon
Who handles building regulations for a project in Shildon?
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.
Which postcodes do you cover around Shildon?
We cover Shildon (DL4) and nearby places including Bishop Auckland, Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor, plus the rest of County Durham. The first site visit is free.
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Shildon?
Shildon 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 Shildon?
Our guide for North East England, which covers Shildon, 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.
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 Shildon? We work across the area, including:
Other extensions in Shildon
- 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 Shildon · Two-storey side extensions across County Durham
Book a free site visit in Shildon and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.