Double-storey extensions in Longbridge

Before your two-storey extension in Longbridge

Expect to apply to Birmingham City Council for planning permission for a two-storey extension in Longbridge; side extensions over one storey always need it. We prepare the drawings, and the structural work also needs Building Regulations approval.

Party wall notices take one or two months to run, so they're best served as soon as planning is granted.
Councils often expect a side extension's first floor to be set back from the front wall, with its roof below the main ridge.
Scaffolding is usually up for most of the build, so think about access along the side of the house early.

Postcode districts: B31, B38
Planning and building control: Birmingham City Council
From our West Bromwich base: 8 miles

Options to consider in Longbridge

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.

Two-storey side extension

Built over the side of the house, often where a driveway or old garage sits. It can create a garage, utility or study downstairs with a double bedroom above. Councils often expect the upper floor to be set back from the front and the roof to sit lower than the main ridge, so the design needs care to win approval.

What does your two-storey extension cost in Longbridge?

Guide prices start at £52,000 and run to £135,000 depending on size and specification. A two-storey side extension on a three-bed semi, about 32 m² over two floors: around £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. Your fixed price for the agreed specification follows a free survey at your Longbridge address.

Double-storey extensions in Longbridge: common questions

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.

Which postcodes in Longbridge do you work in?

We cover B31, B38 and the streets around them. If you're on the edge of Longbridge, neighbouring Northfield and Rubery are covered too.

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.

Does Birmingham City Council need to approve my two-storey extension?

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

Nearby places we cover

Other work we do in Longbridge

Want a guide figure first? Use our quote tool for your Longbridge extension, then book a survey for a fixed price for the agreed specification.