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.
Pitsea sits within our coverage for a double-storey extension, as do neighbouring Basildon, South Benfleet and Wickford. Before giving a price we want to see the property: the condition of what's there now, the access, and anything that might need extra work. The guide range for the East of England is £63,000–£126,000 including VAT, and your written quote will spell out exactly what that covers.
- Guide price
- £63,000–£126,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 14–22 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- SS13, SS14 and SS16
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Essex
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a double-storey extension cost in Pitsea?
Every figure below is a guide for a double-storey extension in Pitsea, inclusive of VAT. Regional pricing for the East of England works out about 5% above the national guide, and the overall span is £63,000–£126,000. The survey costs you nothing, and after it we commit to a firm price for your specification in writing.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Pitsea |
|---|---|---|
| Small (15–20m² total) | A compact rear or side extension adding a small room on each floor. | £42,000–£68,000 |
| Typical (30–40m² total) | A larger kitchen or living room below with a double bedroom or en-suite above. | £63,000–£126,000 |
| Large (50m² plus total) | Wide or deep extensions, often with a new bathroom, steelwork and high-spec glazing. | £105,000–£189,000 |
The main things that change the figure:
- Combined floor area across both storeys
- How the new roof joins the existing roof
- Bathrooms, en-suites and plumbing on the upper floor
- 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
- First-floor joists, stud walls and new openings upstairs
- Roof structure tied into the existing roof, tiled to match
- Windows, external doors, plastering and internal doors
- Building control inspections and completion certificate
Local housing and a double-storey extension
Essex ranges from timber-framed and weatherboarded cottages in the north, some with decorative pargeting, to Victorian terraces in Colchester, Chelmsford and Southend. Basildon and Harlow were built as post-war new towns, much of the south-east has interwar suburbs and bungalows, and large new estates continue to appear around Chelmsford and Braintree.
Essex is one of the driest counties in England, and London Clay in the south shrinks in dry spells, so trees and foundation depth matter.
Building traditions across Essex also raise conservation and planning questions, so we check those for a double-storey extension in Pitsea at the survey stage.
Permissions for a double-storey extension in Pitsea
Pitsea is in England, so the planning and building rules set out below are the ones that apply. We confirm the details with the council before we quote.
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.
What happens after you get in touch?
We look at the job
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for a double-storey extension, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Quote in writing
We turn the survey notes into a written quote. The price is fixed for the specification we agree, and the document sets out materials, scope and payment stages in plain language.
Getting ready
With the quote agreed, we book the work in and handle preparation: permissions where needed, building control notifications, material orders and access arrangements for your Pitsea property.
Finish and handover
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
Will the extension affect my neighbours?
A double-storey extension can affect neighbours' light, outlook and privacy, which is why planning departments look closely at height, depth and window positions. Side windows facing neighbours often need obscure glass. Work near a shared wall may also need party wall notices; the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies in England and Wales only. We talk through these points early so the design is realistic.
Do I need planning permission in Pitsea?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Pitsea is in England, so England's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Is a double-storey extension better value than single-storey?
A double-storey extension usually gives better value per square metre than a single-storey one, because the same foundations and roof serve twice the floor area. The overall cost is higher, and planning can be harder because of the effect on neighbours. If you might want an extra bedroom later, building both floors now avoids a second round of disruption and scaffolding.
Which postcodes in Pitsea do you cover?
We cover SS13, SS14 and SS16, along with the rest of Essex. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
How much does a double-storey extension cost?
A typical double-storey extension of 30–40m² across both floors costs £63,000–£126,000, built to a plastered finish. As a rough guide, allow around £1,400–£2,600 per square metre plus fixed costs for groundworks, scaffolding and fees. The second storey usually costs less per square metre than the first, because foundations and roof are shared. Bathrooms upstairs and a complex roof add most. We confirm a fixed price after the survey.
Nearby towns
Pitsea and its SS13, SS14 and SS16 postcodes are part of our coverage. Homeowners in Basildon, South Benfleet and Wickford can also book a free survey with us and receive a written price for their job.