Tamworth · Staffordshire

Two-storey side extensions in Tamworth

Homes in Tamworth 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.

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

Postcode districts
B77, B78 and B79
County / area
Staffordshire, 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
Polesworth (3.7 miles), Lichfield (6.3 miles), Sutton Coldfield (6.9 miles)
Distance to Stoke-on-Trent
about 32.7 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.

Tamworth sits about 32.7 miles from Stoke-on-Trent. Closer to home, Polesworth is 3.7 miles away and Lichfield 6.3 miles.

What it costs in Tamworth

Using our West Midlands 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 £86,000–£115,500, 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.

SpecPer m²A 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 Tamworth

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 Tamworth homes

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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Measure and listen

    A visit to Tamworth to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.

  2. Design and approvals

    We draw the extension and check it against the rules for England, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.

  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 Tamworth

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.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Tamworth?

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.

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

Tamworth 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 Tamworth?

We cover Tamworth (B77, B78 and B79) and nearby places including Polesworth, Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield, plus the rest of Staffordshire. The first site visit is free.

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

Other towns near Tamworth:

Other extensions in Tamworth

All two-storey extension services in Tamworth · Two-storey side extensions across Staffordshire

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

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