Building regulations for extensions across Tunbridge Wells
For Tunbridge Wells homeowners we handle building regulations for extensions, with fees agreed in writing before any work starts.
- Guide price in Tunbridge WellsFrom £1,000 inc VAT
- Approval routeFull plans or building notice
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsTN1, TN2, TN3, TN4
Planning and approvals in Tunbridge Wells
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.
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 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).
What is included
- Inspection bookings throughout the build
- Energy and glazing checks, including whole-house calculations if needed
- Submission to the council or a registered building control approver
- Completion certificate on sign-off
- Building regulations drawings and written specification
- Structural calculations for beams, lintels and foundations
Local to Tunbridge Wells
Our survey diary covers Tunbridge Wells, including TN1, TN2, TN3, TN4. The same team covers Tonbridge (4 miles), Sevenoaks (10 miles), Maidstone (14 miles), Swanley (19 miles), all within easy reach.
For homes towards East Sussex, Crowborough is around 7 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.
Design and approval fees for Tunbridge Wells
Fees below are our Tunbridge Wells 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.
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
We visit your Tunbridge Wells home, measure up, talk through what you want and check the planning position.
Design and approvals
We draw the design, agree it with you and handle planning or permitted development checks and building regulations.
Fixed written price
You receive a written, itemised price and programme. Nothing starts until you are happy with it.
Build and sign-off
The build is managed from start to finish, inspected at each stage and signed off on completion.
Questions answered
Do you cover all of Tunbridge Wells?
Yes. We cover Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding parts of Kent. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
How long does this take for a Tunbridge Wells home?
2–5 weeks for drawings, depending on the council and the complexity of the project.
Will my neighbours in Tunbridge Wells 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.
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.
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.
Book a free site visit in Tunbridge Wells
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.