Double-storey extensions for homes in Formby
A double-storey extension in Formby starts with the right design and the right approval route. We take care of both, then build it with our own project management.
- Guide price in FormbyFrom £36,000 inc VAT
- PlanningUsually a householder application
- Build time16–24 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsL37
Who a double-storey extension suits
- Houses with enough distance to the rear or side boundary
- Homeowners who would otherwise consider moving
- Growing families who need a bedroom as well as a bigger kitchen
What should I budget for a double-storey extension in Formby?
For Formby we adjust our national guide rates by ×0.95, the factor we use for North West England. Figures include VAT; your written quote after the survey replaces them.
Typical rates in Formby: £1,470 to £2,850 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 m × 4 m, two floors 24 m² | £36,000 – £43,500 | £41,000 – £54,000 | £52,000 – £68,500 |
| 4 m × 4 m, two floors 32 m² | £47,000 – £56,500 | £54,500 – £71,500 | £69,500 – £91,500 |
| 4 m × 6 m, two floors 48 m² | £70,500 – £84,500 | £82,000 – £107,500 | £104,500 – £137,000 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
Covering Formby
We cover Formby and the postcode districts L37. Nearby, we also take on projects in Maghull (6 miles), Southport (7 miles), Bootle (7 miles), Litherland (7 miles).
Just over the Lancashire border, Ormskirk is about 8 miles away. The North West has a high share of Victorian and Edwardian terraces with rear yards and outriggers, plus large areas of inter-war semis in the suburbs.
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.
In a conservation area, national park, National Landscape, the Broads or a World Heritage Site the permitted development limits are tighter (no side or two-storey extensions without an application). Listed homes need listed building consent, and if permitted development rights have been removed, any extension needs an application.
Building regulations approval is separate from planning. In England you can use the council's building control team or a registered building control approver; a full plans application gets the drawings checked before work starts, and the inspector signs the work off with a completion certificate.
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).
What happens next
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
A designer visits, takes measurements and photos, and discusses layouts, budget and timing with you.
Design and approvals
Once the layout is agreed, we deal with the council: planning permission or written confirmation that none is needed, plus building control.
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
Work is carried out to the agreed programme, inspected by building control and signed off at the end.
Questions people ask about double-storey extensions
Will my neighbours in Formby be involved?
If a planning application or prior approval is needed, the council notifies neighbours. If the work is on or near a shared boundary, party wall notices may also be needed.
Who do I contract with for a double-storey extension in Formby?
Your contract is with S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd, which designs and manages the project and the build teams who carry it out.
Do you cover all of Formby?
Yes. We cover Formby and the surrounding parts of Merseyside. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
Is a two-storey extension cheaper per square metre?
Usually. Our guide range is about £1,470 to £2,850 per m² of new floor area including VAT, compared with £1,660 to £3,230 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 Formby
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.