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.
From a first conversation about a double-storey extension to the day the site is cleared, homeowners in Kirkby deal with us directly. We come out to measure up at no cost, explain the choices in plain terms and send a written quote. For context, comparable work in the North West usually falls within £57,000–£114,000 including VAT, and it is available across L32 and L33.
- Guide price
- £57,000–£114,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 14–22 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- L32 and L33
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Knowsley
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a double-storey extension in Kirkby?
Budgeting for a double-storey extension in Kirkby? The numbers below include VAT and are adjusted for the North West, where costs are about 5% below the national guide. The headline range is £57,000–£114,000. Nothing is final until we have measured up at a free survey and agreed the specification with you.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Kirkby |
|---|---|---|
| Small (15–20m² total) | A compact rear or side extension adding a small room on each floor. | £38,000–£62,000 |
| Typical (30–40m² total) | A larger kitchen or living room below with a double bedroom or en-suite above. | £57,000–£114,000 |
| Large (50m² plus total) | Wide or deep extensions, often with a new bathroom, steelwork and high-spec glazing. | £95,000–£171,000 |
What moves the price up or down:
- 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
- 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
Local housing and a double-storey extension
Liverpool's housing includes Georgian terraces near the centre, large areas of Victorian red-brick terraces, Edwardian semis in the suburbs and big interwar council estates. The Wirral has Victorian villas and interwar semis, Southport has Victorian villas and bungalows, and St Helens and Knowsley have post-war estates and newer housing.
Terraces suit loft rooms, kitchen extensions and repointing, and many need their roofs and windows renewed. Suburban semis commonly take side extensions, driveways and porches.
Knowing the typical building types in Merseyside helps, but a survey of your own home in Kirkby is what decides the right approach to a double-storey extension.
Planning and building rules in Kirkby
Each UK nation sets its own consent rules, and Kirkby 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.
Quote in writing
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.
Booking the work
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.
On site to finish
The job proceeds in the order set out in the programme, with dust and debris kept under control. Finally we tidy away, inspect the work together and pass the finished project over to you with its paperwork.
Why homeowners choose us
Questions about a double-storey extension in Kirkby
How much does a double-storey extension cost?
A typical double-storey extension of 30–40m² across both floors costs £57,000–£114,000, 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.
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.
Do I need planning permission in Kirkby?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Kirkby 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.
Nearby towns
Addresses in L32 and L33 are all covered for Kirkby, along with Norris Green, Maghull and Litherland close by. Give us your postcode when you get in touch and we will confirm the details.