Building regulations for extensions across Rochester
We prepare building regulations for extensions for homes in Rochester, as a stand-alone service or as the first stage of a design and build project.
- Guide price in RochesterFrom £1,000 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsME1, ME2, ME4, ME7
Included in a typical project
- Inspection bookings throughout the build
- Submission to the council or a registered building control approver
- Energy and glazing checks, including whole-house calculations if needed
- Structural calculations for beams, lintels and foundations
- Completion certificate on sign-off
- Building regulations drawings and written specification
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.
Local to Rochester
Our survey diary covers Rochester, including ME1, ME2, ME4, ME7. Nearby, we also take on projects in Chatham (1 mile), Strood (1 mile), Gillingham (2 miles), Gravesend (7 miles).
In the South East, plenty of houses have already been extended once, which makes checking the remaining permitted development allowance an important early step.
What it costs in Rochester
Fees below are our Rochester 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.
Try the guide-price tool to see a range for your own size and finish.
Planning and approvals in Rochester
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.
Homes in conservation areas, national parks, National Landscapes (formerly AONBs), the Broads and World Heritage Sites have tighter rules, so we always check the property's status and planning history before design starts.
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).
Our process, step by step
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
We visit your Rochester home, measure up, talk through what you want and check the planning position.
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
The price is fixed in writing once the design is settled, with a clear programme and payment stages.
Build and sign-off
Our team builds the extension, keeps you updated weekly and finishes with building control sign-off.
Common questions in Rochester
Do you cover all of Rochester?
Yes. We cover Rochester and the surrounding parts of Kent. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
How long does this take for a Rochester home?
2–5 weeks for drawings, depending on the council and the complexity of the project.
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Rochester, 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.
Who are building control?
Either your local council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Both inspect the work and issue the completion certificate.
Book a free site visit in Rochester
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.