Double-storey extensions in Hamstead

What should you know before starting in Hamstead?

Planning permission from Sandwell Council is the first hurdle for most double-storey extensions in Hamstead. Householder applications have an eight-week target for a decision, and Building Regulations approval and the Party Wall Act may also apply.

New first-floor bedrooms normally need an escape window with at least 0.33 m² of clear openable area.
A side extension of more than one storey always needs a householder planning application.
The householder planning fee in England is £548 from April 2026, paid to Sandwell Council when you apply.

Postcode district: B43
Planning and building control: Sandwell Council
From our West Bromwich base: 3 miles

Which options suit homes in Hamstead?

Combined side and rear

An L-shaped two-storey build wrapping the side and back of the house gives the biggest gain, sometimes two extra bedrooms. It's a substantial project with more steel and a complex roof junction, and it will need a householder planning application. Expect a longer programme and a careful plan for keeping the house secure while the roofs are joined.

Mixed-height extension

A two-storey section at the side with a single-storey section running across the back. This keeps the first floor away from neighbours' windows while still giving a wide kitchen-diner below. It's a practical compromise where planners have concerns about a full-depth two-storey rear extension, and it often simplifies the roof.

Guide prices for Hamstead

For a home in Hamstead, our guide range is £52,000–£135,000 depending on size and specification. A two-storey side extension on a three-bed semi, about 32 m² over two floors: usually £68,000–£88,000.

Guide prices for double-storey extensions
Option	Guide price	Good to know
Compact two-storey rear (20–28 m² total)	£52,000 – £72,000	Bigger kitchen below, bedroom or bathroom above
Two-storey side or rear (30–40 m² total)	£68,000 – £98,000	The usual size on a three-bed semi
Large or combined side and rear (45 m²+)	£95,000 – £135,000	More steel, a complex roof and a longer programme

Guide ranges include VAT where it applies. Access, parking and the state of what's there now can move the price — the survey settles it.

Your questions answered

Can we stay in the house while you build?

Most families do. The early stages are outside, and the existing house stays closed off until the shell is weathertight. The harder weeks are when openings are cut through on both floors, which brings dust and noise into bedrooms and the kitchen. We sheet off openings, lock up securely every night and agree in advance which rooms you'll lose and when.

Which postcodes in Hamstead do you work in?

We cover B43 and the streets around them. If you're on the edge of Hamstead, neighbouring Great Barr and Kingstanding are covered too.

Is a double-storey extension better value than a single-storey one?

Per square metre, usually yes. Foundations and roofs are the expensive parts of any extension, and on a two-storey build they serve twice the floor area. You'll pay more in total and planning is less certain, but if you need a bedroom as well as downstairs space, building both together normally costs less than two separate projects years apart.

Does Sandwell Council need to approve my two-storey extension?

Usually both. Most two-storey extensions need a planning application to Sandwell Council, and the structural work needs Building Regulations approval from its building control team or a registered building control approver.

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Call 0800 088 6248 or send us your postcode, and we'll arrange a time to look at the house.