Harwich over-garage extensions, designed and built
Our design and build teams take on over-garage extensions in Harwich, from the first measured survey through planning and building control to the finished room.
- Guide price in HarwichFrom £25,000 inc VAT
- PlanningHouseholder application needed
- Build time12–18 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsCO12

Over-garage extension prices in Harwich
These guide figures apply our East of England adjustment (×1.06) to national rates. They include VAT at 20% and cover the build itself; design and council fees are listed separately.
Typical rates in Harwich: £1,910 to £3,600 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over a single garage 12 m² | £25,000 – £31,500 | £26,500 – £34,500 | £34,000 – £43,500 |
| Over a large single garage 16 m² | £30,500 – £37,500 | £35,500 – £46,000 | £45,500 – £58,000 |
| Over a double garage 24 m² | £45,500 – £56,000 | £53,000 – £69,000 | £68,500 – £86,500 |
Want a range for your exact size? The guide-price tool takes about a minute.
Who an over-garage extension suits
- Homes where the landing can connect to the new room
- Detached and link-detached houses with an attached garage
- Families needing a bedroom without losing garden
Fitting the new room to the existing landing is the planning puzzle inside the house. We design the connection first, then the roof, so the extension does not end up with awkward steps or a corridor through a bedroom.
Do I need planning permission in Harwich?
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.
The planning position for a specific Harwich address depends on its history and any designations, which is why we check it at the first visit.
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.
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).
Local to Harwich
Site visits are available across Harwich (CO12). Neighbouring towns we cover include Clacton-on-Sea (12 miles), Colchester (17 miles), Witham (29 miles), Maldon (30 miles).
The East of England mixes market-town terraces, inter-war semis and modern estates. Clay soils are common in parts of the region, which can affect foundation design.
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 Harwich home, measure up, talk through what you want and check the planning position.
Design and approvals
We produce the drawings and structural design, and manage the approvals so they are in place before work starts.
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
We build it with one project manager, book the building control inspections and hand over the completion certificate.
Over-garage extension questions answered
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Harwich, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
Do I need building regulations approval in Harwich?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
Do you cover all of Harwich?
Yes. We cover Harwich and the surrounding parts of Essex. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
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.
How much does a room over a garage cost?
Our guide range is about £1,910 to £3,600 per m² including VAT. A single-garage room of about 12 m² usually costs £26,500 to £34,500 at standard spec, more if the garage needs rebuilding.
Book a free site visit in Harwich
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.