Two-storey side extensions in Skipton

Useful details for planning a two-storey side extension in Skipton.

Postcode districts: BD23
County / area: North Yorkshire, England
Price region: Yorkshire and the Humber
Guide price: £79,000–£106,500 (£1,890–£2,530 per m²)
Approval route: Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
Nearest towns: Cross Hills (4 miles), Barnoldswick (7.6 miles), Keighley (7.9 miles)
Distance to York: about 38 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 BD23 in and around Skipton, along with neighbouring Cross Hills, Barnoldswick and Keighley.

What it costs in Skipton

Expect a two-storey side extension in Skipton to land somewhere around £79,000–£106,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). Our Yorkshire and the Humber guide rate is £1,890–£2,530 per m², including VAT. We'll give you a written design-stage price first, then a fixed build price once the drawings are agreed.

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 Skipton

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 Skipton 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.

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 Skipton to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Skipton and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Technical design
We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.
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 Skipton

Who handles building regulations for a project in Skipton?

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.

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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Skipton?

We cover Skipton (BD23) and nearby places including Cross Hills, Barnoldswick and Keighley, plus the rest of North Yorkshire. The first site visit is free.

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

Our guide for Yorkshire and the Humber, which covers Skipton, 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.

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 Skipton, including:

Other extensions in Skipton

All two-storey extension services in Skipton · Two-storey side extensions across North Yorkshire

Want a figure first? Try our guide price tool, then book a free visit to firm it up.