From rear kitchen extensions to first floor additions, we look at the five extension types our Telford customers choose most often – and the value they add to your property.
Telford homeowners are choosing to extend rather than move in growing numbers — and it is easy to see why. With property prices rising, moving costs eating up tens of thousands of pounds, and a genuine shortage of larger family homes in the area, adding space to the home you already own makes excellent financial and practical sense. At TSS Building Services, we have worked on hundreds of extensions across Telford, Wellington, Oakengates, Dawley and surrounding areas. Here are the five extension types our Telford customers choose most often, and exactly why they work so well.
1. Single Storey Rear Extension
The most popular choice by far across every part of Telford. A single storey rear extension typically expands the kitchen or dining area into the back garden, creating an open-plan living space that transforms how the family uses the house day to day. Bi-fold or sliding doors across the rear wall — connecting the inside to the garden — are a hugely popular addition, and they work particularly well on the south and west-facing plots common on Telford's family estates.
Most single storey rear extensions in Telford range from 15 to 25 square metres and qualify as Permitted Development under Telford & Wrekin Council rules, meaning no planning application is required. Typical build time is 8 to 12 weeks on site, and most of our Telford customers are back in a fully functioning kitchen within 10 weeks.
2. Open-Plan Kitchen Diner with Internal Wall Removal
Combining a rear extension with the removal of the internal wall between the existing kitchen and dining room creates a truly transformative open-plan space. This is consistently one of the most requested projects we carry out in Telford — particularly on the 1970s and 1980s semi-detached homes that make up the majority of the Telford housing stock, many of which have small, compartmentalised ground floors that feel cramped by modern standards.
The internal wall removal requires a structural engineer to design the steel beam that replaces it, and a building inspector to sign off the installation. TSS Building Services coordinates all of this as part of the project. The result — a large, light-filled kitchen, dining and living space running the full depth of the house — is exactly what today's Telford buyers are looking for.
3. Double Storey Extension
For families needing significant extra space at both ground and first floor level, a double storey extension delivers the most floor area for the money. You gain a new room on each floor — typically a larger kitchen or living room downstairs and an additional bedroom, frequently with an en-suite bathroom, upstairs. For Telford properties where a 3-bedroom house is being extended to 4 bedrooms, the increase in market value is substantial.
Planning permission is required for double storey extensions, but for standard Telford properties the application is straightforward and we manage it on your behalf. The cost per square metre is lower than a single storey build, because foundations and roof costs are spread across both floors, making it the most cost-efficient way to add significant floor area.
4. Side Return Extension
Many Telford terraced and semi-detached homes — particularly in Wellington, Oakengates and the older parts of Dawley — have a narrow side passage running alongside the kitchen. A side return extension fills this underused outdoor corridor, typically adding 2.5 to 4 metres of width to the ground floor. The result is a significantly wider kitchen and dining area without taking any garden space. Roof lanterns or long rooflights are standard in side return extensions to compensate for the loss of a side window and ensure the new space feels bright and airy.
5. Over-Garage Extension
A large proportion of Telford's housing stock from the 1970s and 1980s features an integral garage with a flat felt roof. Building a room above the existing garage is one of the most space-efficient extensions available — you gain a new bedroom, study or bathroom directly above, without touching your garden or moving any external walls. The existing ground-floor garage structure often provides a solid base, making the structural work simpler and less expensive than a full double storey extension from ground level.
Planning permission is generally required for over-garage extensions, but for most standard Telford properties the application is a straightforward householder application with Telford & Wrekin Council. TSS Building Services manages the application as part of the project.
How to Choose the Right Extension Type for Your Telford Home
| Extension Type | Best For | Planning Needed? | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Storey Rear | Larger kitchen-diner, family living space | Usually no (PD) | £28,000 – £55,000 |
| Open-Plan + Wall Removal | Max open-plan impact on existing footprint | Usually no (PD) | £35,000 – £65,000 |
| Double Storey | Extra bedroom + ground floor space | Yes | £65,000 – £95,000 |
| Side Return | Wider kitchen without using garden | Usually no (PD) | £25,000 – £45,000 |
| Over-Garage | Extra bedroom above garage | Yes | £35,000 – £55,000 |
Not sure which option suits your Telford home? TSS Building Services offers free site visits across Telford and the whole of Shropshire. We will assess your property and give you an honest recommendation — with no obligation to proceed.
