Building regulations for extensions across Cumbria
We prepare building regulations for extensions for homes across Cumbria, on their own or as the first stage of a full design and build project.
- Guide priceFrom £850 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Towns covered7
- Site visitFree, no obligation
Do I need planning permission in Cumbria?
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.
The planning position for a specific Cumbria address depends on its history and any designations, which is why we check it at the first visit.
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).
Working in Cumbria
Towns we cover in Cumbria include Carlisle, Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, Whitehaven, Workington, Penrith, Ulverston. Across the North West, terraced houses with small rear yards suit compact rear and side return extensions, while suburban semis have room for more.
Design and approval fees for Cumbria
Fees below are our Cumbria guide (×0.95, the North West England factor), including VAT. Council and building control fees are extra.
| Option | What it covers | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Building regulations drawings for a simple single-storey extension | £850 – £1,750 |
| Standard | Drawings plus structural calculations | £1,200 – £2,500 |
| Premium | Complex or two-storey pack with energy calculations | £2,050 – £3,650 |
Our design fee only. Building control charges are set by your council (or, in England and Wales, a registered building control approver) and quoted separately.
Want a range for your exact size? The guide-price tool takes about a minute.
What we take care of
- Submission to the council or a registered building control approver
- Building regulations drawings and written specification
- Completion certificate on sign-off
- Energy and glazing checks, including whole-house calculations if needed
Building regulations approval and planning permission are separate. A design can have planning consent and still need changes to meet the regulations, which is why we draw for both together.
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
It starts with a visit to your house to measure, check access and talk through ideas and budget.
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
With the design and specification agreed, you get a fixed written price and a start date.
Build and sign-off
The build is managed from start to finish, inspected at each stage and signed off on completion.
Common questions in Cumbria
Do I need building regulations approval in Cumbria?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
Do you cover all of Cumbria?
Yes, across the whole of Cumbria. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Cumbria, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
Full plans or building notice?
A full plans application gets the drawings checked before work starts, which we usually recommend for extensions. A building notice is quicker to submit but carries more risk if something needs changing on site.
What are the insulation standards for an extension?
In England, new walls in an extension should achieve a U-value of 0.18 W/m²K, roofs 0.15 and floors 0.18, with windows at 1.4 and rooflights at 2.2. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own figures.
Book a free site visit in Cumbria
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.