Old Swan · Merseyside

Two-storey wraparound extensions in Old Swan

Want to stay in Old Swan but need more space? A two-storey wraparound extension adds floor area on two levels without giving up much garden. Here's what's involved.

Old Swan: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts
L13
County / area
Merseyside, England
Price region
North West England
Guide price
£114,500–£157,000 (£2,040–£2,800 per m²)
Approval route
Planning permission is needed: the side part takes it outside permitted development in England.
Nearest towns
Knotty Ash (0.5 miles), Wavertree (1.1 miles), Childwall (1.3 miles)
Distance to Liverpool
about 2.9 miles
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a two-storey wraparound extension

A two-storey wraparound extension is an L-shaped addition that extends both the side and the rear of your house, on two floors. It gives one of the largest gains in floor space of any extension, typically a big open-plan kitchen and living area below and two or more bedrooms or bathrooms above. In England it needs planning permission, because the side part is more than one storey.

We cover Old Swan (L13) and the places around it, including Knotty Ash (0.5 miles), Wavertree (1.1 miles) and Childwall.

What it costs in Old Swan

Using our North West England rates, 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) comes to about £114,500–£157,000, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.

SpecPer m²An L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,880–£2,580 per m²£105,000–£144,500
Standard£2,040–£2,800 per m²£114,500–£157,000
Premium£2,450–£3,360 per m²£137,500–£188,500

Planning and building regulations in Old Swan

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 Old Swan homes

Daylight to the middle

A deep L-shaped plan can leave the middle of the ground floor dark, because the old rear rooms are now enclosed. We use wide rear openings, a well-placed stair and, where part of the extension is single storey, roof lights, while keeping total glazing within the Part L allowance.

Two roofs that meet

A wraparound needs the side roof and rear roof to join cleanly, often with a valley or hip where they meet. Getting pitches and ridge heights right keeps rainwater moving and avoids a bulky mass at the back corner, which neighbours and planners notice.

How we'd run your project

  1. Visit and first ideas

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

  2. Choose the approval route

    Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.

  3. Fixed price in writing

    With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.

  4. Build it

    The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Questions about two-storey wraparound extensions in Old Swan

Who handles building regulations for a project in Old Swan?

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 much does a two-storey wraparound extension cost in Old Swan?

Our guide for North West England, which covers Old Swan, is £2,040–£2,800 per m² including VAT. A typical project with an L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space) comes to about £114,500–£157,000. 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 wraparound extension in Old Swan?

Old Swan 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.

How much floor space does a wraparound extension add?

It depends on the width of the side plot and the depth at the rear. Our guide prices are based on a typical wraparound with an L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space). Yours may be larger or smaller, and the measured survey shows what your plot can take.

Is a wraparound extension better than separate side and rear extensions?

Building both at once usually costs less than two separate projects, because you pay for one set-up, one scaffold, one roof junction and one set of approvals. It also lets the layout be designed as a whole. The trade-off is a larger single outlay and a longer build, often 16 to 24 weeks at this size.

Nearby

Nearby towns we cover for two-storey wraparound extensions:

Other extensions in Old Swan

All two-storey extension services in Old Swan · Two-storey wraparound extensions across Merseyside

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

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