Southampton · Hampshire

Two-storey wraparound extensions in Southampton

A two-storey wraparound extension is one of the most space-efficient ways to add bedrooms and living space to a house in Southampton, because the new floors share one set of foundations and one roof.

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

Postcode districts
SO14 and SO15
County / area
Hampshire, 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
Woolston (1.4 miles), Portswood (1.7 miles), Hythe (Hampshire) (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.

Around Southampton we also work in Woolston, Portswood and Hythe (Hampshire), and across the rest of Hampshire. Postcode districts in and near Southampton: SO14 and SO15.

What it costs in Southampton

A guide price for Southampton: around £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). That works out at £2,360–£3,250 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. 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£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 Southampton

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 Southampton 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.

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. Measure and listen

    A visit to Southampton to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.

  2. Drawings and permission

    Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Southampton.

  3. Detail and price

    Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.

  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 Southampton

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

Our guide for South East England, which covers Southampton, 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.

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.

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

Southampton 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.

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.

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 Southampton? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Southampton

All two-storey extension services in Southampton · Two-storey wraparound extensions across Hampshire

Tell us about your house in Southampton and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.

CallGuide price