A double-storey extension adds two floors of new space to your house in one build, typically a larger kitchen or living room downstairs with an extra bedroom, bathroom or en-suite above, sharing one set of foundations and one roof.
Thinking about a double-storey extension in Hove? We take charge of the whole project, co-ordinating every trade involved, and one person keeps you updated. Guide prices for the South East sit at £67,000–£134,000 including VAT, and a typical job takes 14–22 weeks on site. Your own figure depends on what the survey finds and the specification you settle on.
- Guide price
- £67,000–£134,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 14–22 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- BN1, BN3 and BN41
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Brighton and Hove
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Double-storey extensions prices in Hove
These are guide costs, not quotes. For a double-storey extension in Hove the range is £67,000–£134,000, VAT included, reflecting prices in the South East that are about 12% above the national guide. Once we have visited for a free survey, you get a firm figure for the scope you approve.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Hove |
|---|---|---|
| Small (15–20m² total) | A compact rear or side extension adding a small room on each floor. | £45,000–£73,000 |
| Typical (30–40m² total) | A larger kitchen or living room below with a double bedroom or en-suite above. | £67,000–£134,000 |
| Large (50m² plus total) | Wide or deep extensions, often with a new bathroom, steelwork and high-spec glazing. | £112,000–£202,000 |
What moves the price up or down:
- Combined floor area across both storeys
- How the new roof joins the existing roof
- Foundation depth, ground conditions and drains to divert
- Scaffolding duration, access and the level of finishes
What’s included?
- Groundworks, foundations and below-ground drainage
- Insulated cavity walls with brick or render to match the house
- Roof structure tied into the existing roof, tiled to match
- Scaffolding for the full build, erected and inspected
- Electrics, plumbing and heating by qualified trades, with certificates
- Building control inspections and completion certificate
Local housing and a double-storey extension
Brighton and Hove are known for Regency stucco terraces and bow-fronted houses, alongside Victorian terraces climbing the hills. Lewes and Brighton have mathematical tiles and flint walls, Eastbourne has large Victorian and Edwardian villas, and Wealden villages use tile-hanging, weatherboarding and timber frames. Interwar suburbs and newer estates fill out most towns.
Regency and Victorian houses often need sash-style windows, stucco or render repair and careful decorating. Hillside terraces suit loft conversions, and flint or brick walls commonly need repointing in lime mortar.
So when we survey a Hove property for a double-storey extension, the first step is working out how it was built and what has been changed since.
Do you need permission in Hove?
Each UK nation sets its own consent rules, and Hove is in England. What follows is a plain summary; we check the specifics for your property with the council before pricing anything.
In England, a two-storey rear extension can only be permitted development if it is no more than 3 m deep, at least 7 m from the rear boundary and finished to match the house. Most double-storey and all two-storey side extensions need full planning permission.
Building Regulations approval is needed, with structural calculations for beams, foundations and the roof. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 often applies on semi-detached and terraced houses.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
The four stages
We look at the job
A free survey comes first. It gives us what we need to price a double-storey extension properly, including dimensions, existing materials and access for deliveries, and gives you the chance to ask anything you like.
Price and scope agreed
After the survey we send a quote for a double-storey extension that fixes the price for the scope we've agreed. If you want to change materials or scope, we revise it in writing before anything is booked.
Dates and permissions
Preparation matters as much as the build. We agree access, parking and working hours with you, order materials in good time, and confirm any permissions so the job isn't held up once it starts.
Finish and handover
The work is carried out to the agreed specification, with floors and furniture protected and the site kept tidy. At the end we clean up, walk through the finished job with you and hand over any certificates.
What you can expect from us
Double-storey extensions in Hove: questions
How long does a double-storey extension take?
A double-storey extension typically takes 14–22 weeks on site, depending on size, roof design and weather. Foundations and ground-floor walls come first, then the first-floor joists, upper walls and roof. Once it is weathertight, electrics, plumbing, plastering and finishes follow. Allow extra time beforehand for drawings, calculations and approvals. We give you a stage-by-stage programme with your quote.
Can we live at home while it is built?
Most families stay at home during a double-storey extension. The new structure is built outside first, and we only break through into the existing rooms near the end, usually one floor at a time. Upstairs, this may mean a bedroom is out of use for a week or two. We fit dust screens, protect floors and stairs, and plan any time without water or power in advance.
What happens at the survey?
We visit your home at a time that suits you, look at the area involved, take measurements and check access, condition and any services that might be affected. We talk through what you want from a double-storey extension, explain the options and answer questions. There is no charge and no obligation; afterwards we send a written quote.
How is the new roof joined to the existing house?
The new roof is usually tied into the existing roof so the two read as one. On a rear extension this often means a lower ridge or a hipped end, with valleys where the slopes meet. We strip back some existing tiles, fix new rafters and battens, and lay matching tiles or slates. Lead or proprietary flashings seal the junctions so water runs off properly.
Is the price fixed?
Yes, for the specification we agree. Your written quote sets out exactly what is included at a fixed price. It only changes if you ask for something different, or if a problem the survey could not reasonably reveal later needs extra work. In either case we explain the change and confirm it in writing before going ahead.
Near Hove
We welcome enquiries from all BN1, BN3 and BN41 postcodes in Hove, plus Brighton, Portslade and Shoreham-by-Sea. Each one gets the same survey at no charge and a written price fixed for the work described.