Double-storey extension in Richmond upon Thames
Do you need planning permission for a double-storey extension in Richmond upon Thames? In many cases, yes. National rules allow a rear extension of more than one storey without an application only if it is 7 metres or more from the boundary opposite the rear wall and no taller than the highest part of the existing roof; many double-storey schemes therefore need permission.[1] The borough's House Extensions and External Alterations SPD expects a two-storey side extension to be sited 1m from the side boundary.[2]
Local rules for a double-storey extension in Richmond upon Thames
- Richmond's House Extensions and External Alterations SPD (May 2015) says two-storey side and rear extensions should not be greater than half the width of the original building, and that a two-storey side extension should be sited 1m from the side boundary.[2]
- Side extensions are usually expected to be set back at least 1m behind the front elevation, which keeps them visibly subordinate to the original house.[2]
- Householder applications follow the national requirements plus local items where triggered, for example CIL Form 1, a heritage statement, an arboricultural impact assessment, a fire safety strategy or exception statement, and a structural impact assessment.[3]
How Richmond upon Thames handles these applications
Richmond upon Thames granted 83.3% of the householder applications it decided in the year to 30 June 2026, which was 1,085 out of 1,302.[4] The government table does not split these by type of work. On our own calculation from the same table, about 98.7% of householder decisions were made within 8 weeks, leaving out applications decided on an agreed timescale.[4]
Richmond's new Local Plan for 2024-2039, with its Policies Map, was adopted on 7 October 2025.[5]
Average prices in August 2026 were £1,823,726 for a detached home and £1,208,719 for a semi-detached one.[6] Extending is one option to weigh against moving.
What it costs
A double-storey extension with Plandome costs a fixed £3,000 (VAT_WORDING_TBC); the council charges its application fee separately.
The proposal is free, so you can see what we would prepare before you decide.
Charges and fees that come from the council or from national rules:
- Richmond charges £190 for pre-application advice on alterations or extensions to a non-listed dwelling; that fee does not include a meeting with a planning officer, and the council's page does not say how VAT is treated, so check with the council.[7]
- If a planning application is needed, the national statutory fee for alterations to a single dwelling is £548 (from 1 April 2026).[8]
What the work looks like
Questions people ask
Does Richmond upon Thames usually approve householder applications?
Richmond upon Thames granted 83.3% of the 1,302 householder decisions in the year to 30 June 2026, according to the government's PS2 table.[4] The figure covers all householder work and says nothing about a particular scheme.
How close to the boundary can a two-storey side extension be in Richmond?
The SPD says a two-storey side extension should be sited 1m from the side boundary, and no wider than half the width of the original building.[2]
Is approval of a double-storey extension guaranteed?
No. Approval is a decision for the council, so Plandome makes no promise about the result.
Is this page advice about my own property?
Not on its own. The page is general information last checked on 14 November 2026, and the sources are listed below. Your own address may be affected by things it cannot show.