House extensions in Herefordshire & Monmouthshire
Rear, side, wraparound, single and double-storey extensions — designed around what the space actually needs to do, and priced in writing before we start.
Extending is usually cheaper than moving
Once you add up stamp duty, agents' fees, solicitors, removals and the premium you pay for a bigger house in the same area, moving to gain one room is an expensive way to solve the problem. An extension keeps you in the same street, the same schools and the same garden — and adds value to a property you already own.
The trade-off is that you have to live through it. That's worth being realistic about, and it's one of the things we go through honestly at the site visit rather than glossing over.
Types of extension we build
Rear extensions
The most common project we do. Extending into the garden to create a bigger kitchen, a dining area or an open-plan family space. Often achievable under permitted development, and usually the simplest structurally.
Side extensions
Making use of a side passage, a narrow strip of garden or the space beside a garage. Frequently the difference between a cramped galley kitchen and a room the whole family can use.
Wraparound extensions
Rear and side combined to transform the whole ground floor. More structural work and usually a planning application, but the biggest change to how a house lives.
Single-storey extensions
Ground-floor only. Lower cost, less disruption, quicker on site, and more likely to fall within permitted development.
Double-storey extensions
Extra living space downstairs and a bedroom, bathroom or office above. More cost-efficient per square metre than building out twice, because the foundations and roof do double duty.
Kitchen extensions
Usually a rear or side extension with the kitchen relocated into it. Worth planning the layout, services and lighting early — moving drainage and electrics later is what pushes budgets up.
Garage extensions
Building over or beside an existing garage, or extending it to take a bigger vehicle, a workshop or storage. Existing garage foundations often need upgrading before anything can go above them.
Open-plan conversions
Removing internal walls and installing steels as part of the extension so the new and existing space work as one room, rather than a new box bolted onto an old layout. See structural alterations.
Extending an older Herefordshire or Monmouthshire property
A lot of the housing stock in these two counties is not standard modern construction. Solid brick and stone walls, timber frames, lime mortar, rubble foundations, single-skin outbuildings that have been absorbed into the house at some point in the last century.
That affects everything: how you tie a new structure into an old wall, how you deal with damp and breathability, what the foundations need to be, and whether the wall you were planning to remove is holding something up. It also affects planning, because much of Hereford's centre, the Wye Valley and many of the villages sit in conservation areas or contain listed buildings.
The survey work at the start is what stops surprises appearing at week six.
We'd rather spend longer at the site visit and quote accurately than win the job on an optimistic number and come back to you for more money later.
Included as standard
Extension questions
How much does a house extension cost in Herefordshire?
Single-storey extensions in Herefordshire and Monmouthshire typically start in the region of £2,000–£2,800 per square metre for a standard specification, with double-storey work often coming in lower per square metre because you get two floors from one set of foundations and one roof. Kitchens, bathrooms, expensive glazing and difficult access all move the number. We quote itemised, after seeing the property. Full cost breakdown.
Do I need planning permission for an extension?
Many single-storey rear extensions fall within permitted development if they stay within the size, height and boundary limits. Conservation areas, listed buildings, AONB land and properties that have already been extended are the usual exceptions. We'll tell you which route applies at the site visit. Planning guide.
How long does an extension take?
A straightforward single-storey rear extension is typically 10–16 weeks on site once you have approvals. Double-storey and wraparound work usually runs 16–24 weeks. Design, drawings and planning can add two to four months before any of that starts, so the honest answer to 'when can we be using it' is usually six to nine months from the first conversation.
Who deals with Building Control and the structural engineer?
We do. We coordinate the structural engineer for beam and foundation calculations, submit the Building Regulations application, and book the inspections through to final sign-off.
Will the extension match the existing house?
That's a design decision worth making deliberately. Matching brick and tile on an older Herefordshire property can be difficult — reclaimed materials or a deliberately contrasting element often looks better than a near-miss. We'll go through the options at the site visit.