Two-storey wraparound extensions in Reading

Quick reference for homeowners in Reading.

Postcode districts: RG1, RG4, RG30 and RG31
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: Lower Earley (3 miles), Henley-on-Thames (6.1 miles), Wokingham (6.6 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 Reading (RG1, RG4, RG30 and RG31) and the places around it, including Lower Earley (3.0 miles), Henley-on-Thames (6.1 miles) and Wokingham.

What it costs in Reading

Most of the cost of a two-storey wraparound extension is set by its size and specification. For Reading and the rest of South East England, our guide is £2,360–£3,250 per m² including VAT, so about £132,500–£181,500 for an L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space). The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.

Spec	Per m²	An 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 Reading

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 Reading homes

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.

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

Free site visit
We visit your home in Reading, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Reading and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Technical design
We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.
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 Reading

Who handles building regulations for a project in Reading?

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 Reading?

Our guide for South East England, which covers Reading, is £2,360–£3,250 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 £132,500–£181,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Which postcodes do you cover around Reading?

We cover Reading (RG1, RG4, RG30 and RG31) and nearby places including Lower Earley, Henley-on-Thames and Wokingham, plus the rest of Berkshire. The first site visit is free.

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.

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: