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.
If you live in York and are weighing up a double-storey extension, the starting point is a visit to measure up and talk through what you want, which costs nothing. We cover homes across YO1, YO10, YO24 and YO30, and a typical project of this kind in Yorkshire and the Humber lands somewhere in the £56,000–£113,000 bracket, including VAT. The exact figure depends on size, access and the finish you choose.
- Guide price
- £56,000–£113,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 14–22 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- YO1, YO10, YO24, YO30 and YO31
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- North Yorkshire
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Double-storey extensions prices in York
No two jobs cost exactly the same, but the ranges below give a fair picture of a double-storey extension in York. Pricing for Yorkshire and the Humber runs about 6% below the national guide, and the overall guide is £56,000–£113,000 with VAT included. We'll confirm your figure after surveying the property for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in York |
|---|---|---|
| Small (15–20m² total) | A compact rear or side extension adding a small room on each floor. | £37,500–£61,000 |
| Typical (30–40m² total) | A larger kitchen or living room below with a double bedroom or en-suite above. | £56,000–£113,000 |
| Large (50m² plus total) | Wide or deep extensions, often with a new bathroom, steelwork and high-spec glazing. | £94,000–£169,000 |
Expect these to shape the final quote:
- 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
- Scaffolding for the full build, erected and inspected
- Electrics, plumbing and heating by qualified trades, with certificates
- Windows, external doors, plastering and internal doors
What are homes like around York?
York has medieval timber-framed, Georgian and Victorian buildings, Harrogate has stone Victorian villas and terraces, and the Dales and Moors are built of limestone and sandstone, often under stone-slate or pantile roofs. Teesside towns within the county, such as Middlesbrough and Redcar, have Victorian red-brick terraces and post-war estates.
High ground in the Dales and Moors sees snow, frost and strong winds, while the coast faces cold North Sea weather.
If your house in York fits one of these patterns, it helps us anticipate what a double-storey extension will involve, though we always confirm the details on site.
Planning and building rules in York
For anyone in York, 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.
The four stages
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.
Written quote
Next you receive a written quote with a fixed price for the agreed specification. It lists what is included, what is not, and how payments are staged, so you can compare it properly.
Booking the work
We handle the paperwork side: checking whether planning permission or building control approval is needed, submitting applications where they are, and scheduling the trades and materials around your dates.
Build and hand over
During the work we protect the areas around it and tidy up at the end of each day. Once complete, we check the finish, remove our materials and hand over paperwork such as building control sign-off where it applies.
Working with SK Home Improvements
Common questions
Can you combine a double-storey extension with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan a double-storey extension alongside other work on your York home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.
Can the new upstairs room have its own bathroom?
A new upstairs room can usually have an en-suite, provided waste pipes can reach the soil stack or a new one can be installed. Running the waste pipe to the right falls is the main design question, and a pumped system is an option where gravity will not work. We plan bathroom positions at the design stage so pipes, ventilation and insulation are built in rather than added later.
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.
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.
Which postcodes in York do you cover?
We cover YO1, YO10, YO24 and YO30, along with the rest of North Yorkshire. 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 York
York and its YO1, YO10, YO24 and YO30 postcodes are part of our coverage. Homeowners in Selby, Harrogate and Goole can also book a free survey with us and receive a written price for their job.