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.
For a homeowner in Leeds, planning a double-storey extension tends to begin with two questions: what will it cost, and how disruptive will it be? Our guide range is £56,000–£113,000 including VAT, and a typical job runs to 14–22 weeks on site. Both numbers firm up once we have seen the property, measured up and agreed exactly what is included.
- Guide price
- £56,000–£113,000 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 14–22 weeks on site
- Postcodes
- LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4 and LS7
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- West Yorkshire
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Double-storey extensions prices in Leeds
These are guide costs, not quotes. For a double-storey extension in Leeds the range is £56,000–£113,000, VAT included, reflecting prices in Yorkshire and the Humber that are about 6% below 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 Leeds |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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?
- 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
- Scaffolding for the full build, erected and inspected
- Electrics, plumbing and heating by qualified trades, with certificates
- Building control inspections and completion certificate
Homes in West Yorkshire
Leeds and Bradford are known for back-to-back and through terraces, many in sandstone or millstone grit, with stone-slate roofs on older properties. Halifax, Huddersfield and the Calder valley have mill-town stone terraces climbing steep hillsides, and interwar semis, post-war estates and newer housing surround the larger towns.
Back-to-backs and through terraces often suit dormer loft conversions and careful kitchen layouts. Stone properties commonly need repointing with suitable mortar, roof repairs and window replacement, and hillside plots can need retaining walls.
These patterns matter for a double-storey extension: older walls, roofs and floors in Leeds can need different materials or extra preparation compared with newer homes.
Planning and building rules in Leeds
The notes below cover England, which is where Leeds sits. Rules change and every property is different, so we speak to the council before pricing your job.
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?
A visit to your home
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
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.
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
On site, the agreed plan is followed and any change is put in writing first. At completion we do a final clean, go through the snagging list with you and leave you with the relevant documents.
Working with SK Home Improvements
Questions about a double-storey extension in Leeds
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.
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.
How much does a double-storey extension cost?
A typical double-storey extension of 30–40m² across both floors costs £56,000–£113,000, 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 will a double-storey extension take?
On a typical home, allow 14–22 weeks on site. Larger projects, older buildings and extra work found once things are opened up can extend that, while simpler jobs may be shorter. Your quote includes an estimate of time on site, and your point of contact keeps you updated on the programme as the work progresses.
Do I need planning permission in Leeds?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Leeds 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.
Near Leeds
We welcome enquiries from all LS1, LS2, LS3 and LS4 postcodes in Leeds, plus Chapel Allerton, Morley and Pudsey. Each one gets the same survey at no charge and a written price fixed for the work described.