Building regulations for extensions in Gillingham
For Gillingham homeowners we handle building regulations for extensions, with fees agreed in writing before any work starts.
- Guide price in GillinghamFrom £1,000 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsME1, ME2, ME4, ME5, ME7

Local to Gillingham
Across ME1, ME2, ME4, ME5, ME7, ME8, we can visit, measure and advise. Nearby, we also take on projects in Chatham (1 mile), Rochester (2 miles), Strood (3 miles), Gravesend (8 miles).
Just over the Essex border, Canvey Island is about 9 miles away. 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.
Who this service is for
- Glass-heavy designs that need energy calculations
- Every extension, whatever the planning route
- Homeowners using their own builder who need the drawings
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.
Design and approval fees for Gillingham
Fees below are our Gillingham guide (×1.12, the South East 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 | £1,000 – £2,050 |
| Standard | Drawings plus structural calculations | £1,450 – £2,950 |
| Premium | Complex or two-storey pack with energy calculations | £2,450 – £4,300 |
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.
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
Will the council need to approve it?
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 Gillingham 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.
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.
Applications are decided by the local planning authority (your district, borough or unitary council).
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 draw the design, agree it with you and handle planning or permitted development checks and building regulations.
Fixed written price
The price is fixed in writing once the design is settled, with a clear programme and payment stages.
Build and sign-off
Work is carried out to the agreed programme, inspected by building control and signed off at the end.
Common questions in Gillingham
Do you cover all of Gillingham?
Yes. We cover Gillingham and the surrounding parts of Kent. 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 Gillingham, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
Will my neighbours in Gillingham 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.
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 Gillingham
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.