Stretford · Greater Manchester

Two-storey side extensions in Stretford

Homes in Stretford with a bit of space to the side or rear can often take a two-storey side extension. We'll tell you honestly whether yours can, and what approvals it needs.

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

Postcode districts
M32
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
Old Trafford (1.3 miles), Urmston (1.5 miles), Sale (1.7 miles)
Distance to Manchester
about 3.9 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 Stretford (M32) and the places around it, including Old Trafford (1.3 miles), Urmston (1.5 miles) and Sale.

What it costs in Stretford

In North West England, which includes Stretford, we'd expect a two-storey side extension to cost around £82,000–£109,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), or £1,950–£2,610 per m² including VAT. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.

SpecPer m²A 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 Stretford

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 Stretford 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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Free site visit

    We visit your home in Stretford, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.

  2. Drawings and permission

    Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Stretford.

  3. Technical design

    We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.

  4. 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 Stretford

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

Our guide for North West England, which covers Stretford, 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.

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Stretford?

Stretford 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Stretford?

We cover Stretford (M32) and nearby places including Old Trafford, Urmston and Sale, plus the rest of Greater Manchester. 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.

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 Stretford, including:

Other extensions in Stretford

All two-storey extension services in Stretford · Two-storey side extensions across Greater Manchester

Book a free site visit in Stretford and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.

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