Double-storey extensions in Alton: design, approvals and build
Thinking about a double-storey extension for your Alton home? Start with a free site visit: we measure up, check what the council will allow and give you honest guide figures on the day.
- Guide price in AltonFrom £42,500 inc VAT
- PlanningUsually a householder application
- Build time16–24 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsGU34
Guide prices for Alton
Prices below are for Alton, using the South East England factor of ×1.12. They are guide ranges including VAT for the build only, not a quote.
Typical rates in Alton: £1,740 to £3,360 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 m × 4 m, two floors 24 m² | £42,500 – £51,000 | £48,000 – £63,500 | £61,500 – £81,000 |
| 4 m × 4 m, two floors 32 m² | £55,500 – £66,500 | £64,500 – £84,500 | £82,000 – £108,000 |
| 4 m × 6 m, two floors 48 m² | £83,000 – £99,500 | £96,500 – £126,500 | £123,500 – £161,500 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
Who a double-storey extension suits
- Houses with enough distance to the rear or side boundary
- Growing families who need a bedroom as well as a bigger kitchen
- Homeowners who would otherwise consider moving
The roof is what makes a two-storey extension look right or wrong. We match the pitch and materials of the main house wherever possible and plan the upstairs layout around the existing landing so the new rooms feel original rather than bolted on.
Will the council need to approve it?
In England a two-storey rear extension is permitted development only if it projects no more than 3 m from the original rear wall, sits at least 7 m from the rear boundary, matches the roof pitch and uses obscure, non-opening side windows upstairs. Most two-storey extensions therefore go through a householder planning application, which costs £548 from 1 April 2026 and normally takes about 8 weeks.
Before any drawing is finalised we check whether the house is listed, in a conservation area or subject to an Article 4 direction.
Building over or within 3 m of a public sewer needs the water company's consent, usually through a build-over agreement, before the foundations go in.
If the work involves a shared wall, building on the boundary, or digging foundations within 3 m (sometimes 6 m) of a neighbour's building, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notice must be served before work starts: two months for work to a party wall, one month for new walls on the boundary and for excavations.
Applications are decided by the local planning authority (your district, borough or unitary council).
Extensions in and around Alton
Site visits are available across Alton (GU34). Neighbouring towns we cover include Bordon (5 miles), Basingstoke (9 miles), Fleet (11 miles), Aldershot (11 miles).
Homes across the South East range from Victorian terraces in the older town centres to large detached houses on the edges, so the right extension type varies street by street.
How the project works
Site visits are free and there is no obligation. Where drawings are needed, the design stage is priced in writing before it starts.
Free site visit
First, a site visit: we look at the house, garden, access and drains and listen to what you need.
Design and approvals
We produce the drawings and structural design, and manage the approvals so they are in place before work starts.
Fixed written price
We confirm the build price in writing, based on the approved drawings and the finishes you have chosen.
Build and sign-off
The build is managed from start to finish, inspected at each stage and signed off on completion.
Your questions about a double-storey extension in Alton
Do I need building regulations approval in Alton?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Alton, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
Do you cover all of Alton?
Yes. We cover Alton and the surrounding parts of Hampshire. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
Is a two-storey extension cheaper per square metre?
Usually. Our guide range is about £1,740 to £3,360 per m² of new floor area including VAT, compared with £1,960 to £3,810 per m² for single-storey work, because the foundations and roof are shared across two floors.
Does a double-storey extension need planning permission?
Often, yes. In England a two-storey rear extension can be permitted development only if it projects no more than 3 m and sits at least 7 m from the rear boundary, with matching roof pitch and obscure side windows. Side extensions over one storey always need planning permission. We confirm the route at the survey.
Book a free site visit in Alton
We will measure up, check the planning position and give you honest guide figures.
- Free, no-obligation site visit
- Planning route checked before you spend on drawings
- Written price once the design is agreed
- Building control sign-off at the end
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6341 or .
Book a free site visit
Tell us a little about the project and we will arrange a time.