Two-storey wraparound extensions in Soho

The basics for Soho at a glance.

Postcode districts: W1, W1B, W1C, W1D, W1F, W1G and nearby districts
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: St James's (0.5 miles), Holborn (0.7 miles), Westminster (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 Soho (W1, W1B, W1C, W1D, W1F, W1G and nearby districts) and the places around it, including St James's (0.5 miles), Holborn (0.7 miles) and Westminster.

What it costs in Soho

Using our London 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 £144,500–£198,000, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

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 Soho

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 Soho 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

Start at your house
We come to your home in Soho, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in England before drawing in detail.
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 Soho

Which postcodes do you cover around Soho?

We cover Soho (W1, W1B, W1C, W1D, W1F, W1G and nearby districts) and nearby places including St James's, Holborn and Westminster, plus the rest of Greater London. The first site visit is free.

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

Our guide for London, which covers Soho, 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.

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey wraparound extension in Soho?

Soho 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.

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.

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

Close to Soho? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Soho

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

The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Soho and give you an honest view of the options.