Two-storey side extensions in Swansea

Before you start in Swansea, here's what applies.

Postcode districts: SA1, SA2, SA3 and SA5
County / area: Swansea and Neath Port Talbot, Wales
Price region: Wales
Guide price: £79,000–£106,500 (£1,890–£2,530 per m²)
Approval route: Can be permitted development in Wales if it is 10.5 m from the side boundary, set back 1 m from the front and doesn't widen the house by more than half; otherwise planning permission.
Nearest towns: Clydach (4.7 miles), Briton Ferry (5.4 miles), Gorseinon (5.4 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.

Around Swansea we also work in Clydach, Briton Ferry and Gorseinon, and across the rest of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. Postcode districts in and near Swansea: SA1, SA2, SA3 and SA5.

What it costs in Swansea

Using our Wales rates, a two-storey side extension with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) comes to about £79,000–£106,500, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.

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 Swansea

In Wales, a two-storey side extension can be permitted development if it is at least 10.5 m from the boundary opposite the side wall, set back at least 1 m from the front of the house and does not increase the house's widest width by more than 50%. If it fails any test, or the house is in a protected area, a householder application costs £585.

Approval in Wales: Householder planning application: £585. Councils normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks.

Building regulations: Building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency).

Design points for Swansea 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.

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

Look at the house
We start in Swansea with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Wales, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Price it properly
Once the engineer's calculations are in, we fix the build price in writing, with a clear list of what's included.
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 Swansea

Which postcodes do you cover around Swansea?

We cover Swansea (SA1, SA2, SA3 and SA5) and nearby places including Clydach, Briton Ferry and Gorseinon, plus the rest of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. The first site visit is free.

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

Our guide for Wales, which covers Swansea, 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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Swansea?

We handle it as part of the project. What's needed in Wales: building regulations approval under the Welsh Approved Documents, which differ from England's in places (notably energy efficiency). 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 normally decide householder applications within 8 weeks), 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

Close to Swansea? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Swansea

All two-storey extension services in Swansea · Two-storey side extensions across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot

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