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.
Anyone planning a double-storey extension in Peckham wants three things: a clear price, a realistic timetable and a tidy job. We publish a guide of £78,000–£156,000 including VAT for London up front, explain that work normally takes 14–22 weeks on site, and confirm both in writing after a free survey of your property.
- Guide price
- £78,000–£156,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 14–22 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- SE5, SE14, SE15, SE16 and SE17
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Greater London
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a double-storey extension cost in Peckham?
No two jobs cost exactly the same, but the ranges below give a fair picture of a double-storey extension in Peckham. Pricing for London runs about 30% above the national guide, and the overall guide is £78,000–£156,000 with VAT included. We'll confirm your figure after surveying the property for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Peckham |
|---|---|---|
| Small (15–20m² total) | A compact rear or side extension adding a small room on each floor. | £52,000–£84,000 |
| Typical (30–40m² total) | A larger kitchen or living room below with a double bedroom or en-suite above. | £78,000–£156,000 |
| Large (50m² plus total) | Wide or deep extensions, often with a new bathroom, steelwork and high-spec glazing. | £130,000–£234,000 |
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?
- First-floor joists, stud walls and new openings upstairs
- 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
- Windows, external doors, plastering and internal doors
- Building control inspections and completion certificate
What are homes like around Peckham?
London's housing is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often in yellow London stock brick, with Georgian terraces in central districts and mansion blocks across many inner areas. Outer boroughs have large belts of interwar semis, and there are extensive post-war council estates. Many houses have been split into flats, and conservation areas are widespread.
London Clay shrinks and swells with the seasons, and street trees close to houses can contribute to movement, which affects foundation design.
Whatever era your Peckham home dates from, we plan a double-storey extension around how it is actually built rather than a one-size-fits-all specification.
Permissions for a double-storey extension in Peckham
For anyone in Peckham, the relevant framework is England's. The summary below is general, so we always contact the council about your address before putting a price in writing.
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.
How does the job run?
Survey and measure
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
Next comes planning the work itself. We set a start date that suits you, line up the right trades, and make sure any approvals for a double-storey extension are in place before the first day on site.
Build and hand over
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.
How we work
Common questions
How much does a double-storey extension cost?
A typical double-storey extension of 30–40m² across both floors costs £78,000–£156,000, 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.
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.
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.
Do you cover Brixton, Greenwich and Catford?
Yes. As well as Peckham, we cover Brixton, Greenwich and Catford and the rest of London. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.
Which postcodes in Peckham do you cover?
We cover SE5, SE14, SE15 and SE16, along with the rest of London. 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.
Also covering areas around Peckham
Peckham and its SE5, SE14, SE15 and SE16 postcodes are part of our coverage. Homeowners in Brixton, Greenwich and Catford can also book a free survey with us and receive a written price for their job.