Extensions over a garage in Exeter
Thinking about an over-garage extension for your Exeter home? Start with a free site visit: we measure up, check what the council will allow and give you honest guide figures on the day.
- Guide price in ExeterFrom £24,000 inc VAT
- PlanningHouseholder application needed
- Build time12–18 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsEX1, EX2, EX3, EX4, EX5
Do I need planning permission in Exeter?
In England any side extension over one storey, including a room built over a side garage, needs a householder planning application. The fee is £548 from 1 April 2026 and councils aim to decide within 8 weeks.
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.
Applications are decided by the local planning authority (your district, borough or unitary council).
Local to Exeter
Our survey diary covers Exeter, including EX1, EX2, EX3, EX4, EX5, EX6. We also work in nearby Exmouth (9 miles), Tiverton (12 miles), Newton Abbot (14 miles), Torquay (18 miles).
For homes towards Somerset, Taunton is around 27 miles away. In the South West, local stone, render and brick vary from town to town, so matching materials is a big part of designing an extension that looks right.
What is included
- Design and householder planning application
- Opening into the existing first floor
- Strengthening or rebuilding the garage walls if needed
- Structural survey of garage walls and foundations
- Insulation, electrics, heating and finish
- New floor structure, walls and roof
Guide prices for Exeter
Labour and material costs vary across the UK, so for Exeter we use our South West England factor (×1.02). The ranges include VAT and exclude design, structural and council fees.
Typical rates in Exeter: £1,840 to £3,470 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over a single garage 12 m² | £24,000 – £30,000 | £25,500 – £33,500 | £33,000 – £42,000 |
| Over a large single garage 16 m² | £29,000 – £36,000 | £34,000 – £44,500 | £44,000 – £55,500 |
| Over a double garage 24 m² | £44,000 – £54,000 | £51,000 – £66,500 | £66,000 – £83,500 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
From first visit to completion
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
We confirm the build price in writing, based on the approved drawings and the finishes you have chosen.
Build and sign-off
The build is managed from start to finish, inspected at each stage and signed off on completion.
Questions people ask about over-garage extensions
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Exeter, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
Who do I contract with for an over-garage extension in Exeter?
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.
How long does an over-garage extension take to build in Exeter?
On site, typically 12 to 18 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 8–14 weeks design and approvals.
Can my garage take the weight of a room on top?
Some can and some cannot. Many garages have a single-skin wall or shallow foundations. Our structural engineer checks this before we give a fixed price.
Does building over a garage need planning permission?
In England and the rest of the UK, adding a storey over a side garage almost always needs a planning application, because two-storey side extensions are outside permitted development.
Book a free site visit in Exeter
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.