Two-storey wraparound extensions in Rotherhithe

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

Postcode districts: SE16
County / area: Greater London, England
Price region: London
Guide price: £144,500–£198,000 (£2,580–£3,540 per m²)
Approval route: Planning permission is needed: the side part takes it outside permitted development in England.
Nearest towns: Shadwell (0.8 miles), Whitechapel (1.2 miles), Limehouse (1.2 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 postcode district SE16 in and around Rotherhithe, along with neighbouring Shadwell, Whitechapel and Limehouse.

What it costs in Rotherhithe

Our guide for London is £2,580–£3,540 per m² including VAT. On a project with an L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space), that puts a two-storey wraparound extension in Rotherhithe at roughly £144,500–£198,000. Design fees, structural calculations and approval fees are separate and listed on our prices page.

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	£2,370–£3,260 per m²	£133,000–£182,500
Standard	£2,580–£3,540 per m²	£144,500–£198,000
Premium	£3,100–£4,250 per m²	£173,500–£238,000

Planning and building regulations in Rotherhithe

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 Rotherhithe homes

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.

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

Visit and first ideas
One of our team visits your house in Rotherhithe, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.
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.
Structure and building control
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.
Build and hand over
We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.

Questions about two-storey wraparound extensions in Rotherhithe

How long does a two-storey wraparound 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Rotherhithe?

We cover Rotherhithe (SE16) and nearby places including Shadwell, Whitechapel and Limehouse, plus the rest of Greater London. The first site visit is free.

How much does a two-storey wraparound extension cost in Rotherhithe?

Our guide for London, which covers Rotherhithe, is £2,580–£3,540 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 £144,500–£198,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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.

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.

Nearby

Other towns near Rotherhithe:

Other extensions in Rotherhithe

All two-storey extension services in Rotherhithe · Two-storey wraparound extensions across Greater London

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