The Brief

A young family in Petersfield approached us with an ambitious but clear vision: they needed significantly more space but did not want to leave their home near the town centre with its excellent schools, independent shops and South Downs access. Their 1930s semi-detached house had three bedrooms and a separate kitchen and dining room — functional but far too compartmentalised for modern family life.

The brief was to create an open-plan kitchen-diner on the ground floor and add a fourth bedroom with en-suite above. The design needed to respect the character of the street whilst introducing a contemporary aesthetic that reflected the family's taste.

Our Design Approach

We designed a 45m² two-storey rear extension — approximately 22m² on each floor. The ground floor opens up into a generous kitchen-living-dining space, with the new extension housing the kitchen and casual dining area whilst the original dining room becomes part of an interconnected living zone.

Upstairs, the new space accommodates a double bedroom with built-in wardrobes and an en-suite shower room. The landing was reconfigured to provide natural access to the new room without compromising circulation space.

Externally, we chose a contemporary approach: smooth render in a warm grey tone contrasts with the original brick, creating a deliberate distinction between old and new that Petersfield's planning officers responded to positively. Large-format windows on both floors maximise light and views towards the South Downs.

Planning and Approvals

Two-storey extensions almost always require full planning permission, and this project was no exception. We submitted a detailed householder application (£528) with carefully prepared elevations, floor plans and a design statement explaining our approach. The application was approved within the standard 8-week period with no amendments required — a testament to the quality of our drawings and understanding of what East Hampshire District Council expects.

Key Design Features

• Two-storey design: 45m² total — maximising space on a modest footprint by building upwards
• Open-plan ground floor: Kitchen, dining and living zones flowing into one continuous space
• Fourth bedroom: Double bedroom with built-in storage and South Downs views
• En-suite bathroom: Walk-in shower, basin and WC in a compact but well-designed layout
• Contemporary render: Smooth grey render creating a modern contrast with the original brickwork

The Result

This extension has completely transformed the family's daily life. The open-plan ground floor is now the social heart of the house — spacious enough for the children to play whilst meals are being prepared, and elegant enough for adult entertaining in the evenings. The fourth bedroom has given each child their own room, resolving the space pressure that originally prompted the project.

Moving from a three-bedroom to a four-bedroom property in Petersfield — where family homes are in high demand — has added an estimated £60,000-£75,000 to the property value.

Cost and Package Guidance

For a 45m² contemporary extension in Petersfield, the biggest budget variables are usually structural steelwork, glazing specification, drainage changes, foundation conditions and final kitchen, bathroom or joinery choices. Hampshire Build's fixed-fee design packages give homeowners clear design-cost certainty before construction begins, with Essential, Pre-Build and Premium options depending on how much technical documentation and contractor support is needed. The design fee is separate from builder costs, planning fees, Building Control fees and any third-party specialist reports, so clients can make informed decisions without confusing design work with the wider construction budget.

Local Context and Practical Considerations

Projects in Petersfield benefit from early attention to neighbouring amenity, overlooking, daylight, access for builders and material choices that sit comfortably with the existing street scene. On this project, the drawings needed to communicate not only the look of the extension but also how it would work technically: roof drainage, insulation build-ups, structural openings, floor levels and practical circulation through the home. That level of detail helps planning officers, Building Control and builders understand the proposal clearly, reducing avoidable questions and giving the homeowner a stronger basis for the next stage of their extension journey.

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