Lower Earley · Berkshire

Two-storey wraparound extensions in Lower Earley

Adding a two-storey wraparound extension in Lower Earley gives you two new rooms stacked on one footprint. Here's how we'd approach it, what it typically costs and the rules that apply in England.

Quick reference for homeowners in Lower Earley.

Postcode districts
RG2, RG5 and RG6
County / area
Berkshire, England
Price region
South East England
Guide price
£132,500–£181,500 (£2,360–£3,250 per m²)
Approval route
Planning permission is needed: the side part takes it outside permitted development in England.
Nearest towns
Reading (3 miles), Wokingham (3.8 miles), Crowthorne (6.8 miles)
Distance to Reading
about 3 miles
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a two-storey wraparound extension

A two-storey wraparound extension suits a house with space both beside it and behind it, where you want to transform the layout rather than add a single room. You get one design for the whole L-shape, the planning application, structural design for the corner and the openings into the house, building regulations approval and the build, managed by us and carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

We cover Lower Earley (RG2, RG5 and RG6) and the places around it, including Reading (3.0 miles), Wokingham (3.8 miles) and Crowthorne.

What it costs in Lower Earley

For budgeting in Lower Earley, allow around £132,500–£181,500 for a two-storey wraparound extension with an L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space). That's based on £2,360–£3,250 per m² including VAT for South East England. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

SpecPer m²An L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space)
Essential£2,180–£2,990 per m²£122,000–£167,000
Standard£2,360–£3,250 per m²£132,500–£181,500
Premium£2,840–£3,890 per m²£159,000–£218,000

Planning and building regulations in Lower Earley

In England, a two-storey wraparound extension needs householder planning permission, because any extension beyond a side wall must be single storey to be permitted development. The application costs £548 (or £575 for applications made from 8 December 2026). Councils weigh the side part against the street scene and the rear part against neighbours' light and outlook, and should decide within 8 weeks of validation.

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 Lower Earley homes

Phasing the build

A wraparound touches two sides of the house at once, so the kitchen and often the rear rooms are out of use for part of the build. We plan the sequence so you keep a working kitchen and bathroom for as long as possible, or advise when moving out briefly makes sense.

The corner post

At the outside corner of the L, there is no existing wall to carry the floor above. Opening the ground floor fully usually means a steel frame or a corner post, and the engineer's design sets how slim it can be. We decide early whether you want a clear corner or a visible post.

How we'd run your project

  1. Visit and first ideas

    One of our team visits your house in Lower Earley, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.

  2. Get it approved

    Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Lower Earley and deal with any questions from the planning officer.

  3. Structure and building control

    A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.

  4. 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 wraparound extensions in Lower Earley

Which postcodes do you cover around Lower Earley?

We cover Lower Earley (RG2, RG5 and RG6) and nearby places including Reading, Wokingham and Crowthorne, plus the rest of Berkshire. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building regulations for a project in Lower Earley?

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 wraparound extension in Lower Earley?

Lower Earley is in England, so England planning rules apply. Planning permission is needed: the side part takes it outside permitted development in England. If in doubt, a lawful development certificate or a planning application gives you certainty before you build.

Does a wraparound extension need steel?

Almost always. Opening the corner of the house and the old rear wall to make one open-plan space means steel beams, and often a steel post or frame at the outside corner. The structural engineer sizes these, and the steel is ordered once the design is fixed, which is one reason a wraparound needs careful sequencing.

Can I stay at home during a wraparound extension?

Many people do, but a wraparound affects two sides of the house and usually the kitchen, so there will be weeks without a full kitchen. We plan a temporary kitchen, keep a route through the house and seal off the work area. For some families, moving out while the rear wall is opened up is easier.

Nearby

Close to Lower Earley? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Lower Earley

All two-storey extension services in Lower Earley · Two-storey wraparound extensions across Berkshire

Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.

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