Two-storey side extensions in Tavistock
Homes in Tavistock 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.
What we'd confirm first for a project in Tavistock.
- Postcode districts
- PL16, PL19 and PL20
- County / area
- Devon, England
- Price region
- South West England
- Guide price
- £88,500–£119,000 (£2,110–£2,830 per m²)
- Approval route
- Planning permission is needed: in England, permitted development only allows single-storey extensions to the side.
- Nearest towns
- Saltash (10.3 miles), Plymouth (12.3 miles), Plymstock (13.3 miles)
- Distance to Plymouth
- about 12.3 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.
Around Tavistock we also work in Saltash, Plymouth and Plymstock, and across the rest of Devon. Postcode districts in and near Tavistock: PL16, PL19 and PL20.
What it costs in Tavistock
In South West England, which includes Tavistock, we'd expect a two-storey side extension to cost around £88,500–£119,000 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), or £2,110–£2,830 per m² including VAT. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.
| Spec | Per m² | A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,940–£2,610 per m² | £81,500–£109,500 |
| Standard | £2,110–£2,830 per m² | £88,500–£119,000 |
| Premium | £2,530–£3,400 per m² | £106,500–£143,000 |
Planning and building regulations in Tavistock
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 Tavistock 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
Free site visit
We visit your home in Tavistock, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Tavistock.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
On site
One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.
Questions about two-storey side extensions in Tavistock
Which postcodes do you cover around Tavistock?
We cover Tavistock (PL16, PL19 and PL20) and nearby places including Saltash, Plymouth and Plymstock, plus the rest of Devon. The first site visit is free.
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Tavistock?
Tavistock 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.
Who handles building regulations for a project in Tavistock?
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.
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
The same service in neighbouring towns:
Other extensions in Tavistock
- Rear
- Wraparound
- Part two-storey
- Over a garage
- First floor
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Tavistock · Two-storey side extensions across Devon
Tell us about your house in Tavistock and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.