Two-storey side extensions in Shirley (West Midlands)

What we'd confirm first for a project in Shirley (West Midlands).

Postcode districts: B14, B28 and B90
County / area: West Midlands, England
Price region: West Midlands
Guide price: £86,000–£115,500 (£2,050–£2,750 per m²)
Approval route: Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns: Solihull (1.6 miles), Acocks Green (2.7 miles), Knowle (4.1 miles)
Distance to Birmingham: about 5.9 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 districts B14, B28 and B90 in and around Shirley (West Midlands), along with neighbouring Solihull, Acocks Green and Knowle.

What it costs in Shirley (West Midlands)

Our guide for the West Midlands is £2,050–£2,750 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 Shirley (West Midlands) at roughly £86,000–£115,500. 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	£1,890–£2,530 per m²	£79,000–£106,500
Standard	£2,050–£2,750 per m²	£86,000–£115,500
Premium	£2,460–£3,300 per m²	£103,500–£138,500

Planning and building regulations in Shirley (West Midlands)

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 Shirley (West Midlands) 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

Start at your house
We come to your home in Shirley (West Midlands), measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
Finish and certify
Second fix, plastering and making good, then building control's final inspection and the completion paperwork.

Questions about two-storey side extensions in Shirley (West Midlands)

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Shirley (West Midlands)?

Shirley (West Midlands) 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 Shirley (West Midlands)?

Our guide for the West Midlands, which covers Shirley (West Midlands), is £2,050–£2,750 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 £86,000–£115,500. 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 Shirley (West Midlands)?

We cover Shirley (West Midlands) (B14, B28 and B90) and nearby places including Solihull, Acocks Green and Knowle, plus the rest of the West Midlands. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Shirley (West Midlands)?

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 Shirley (West Midlands), including:

Other extensions in Shirley (West Midlands)

All two-storey extension services in Shirley (West Midlands) · Two-storey side extensions across the West Midlands

Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Shirley (West Midlands).