Middle Road: a two-storey side extension and porch in Wrexham
Middle Road is a two-storey side extension in Wrexham, with 42 m² on each floor and a new 5.4 m² front porch, designed by Studio 9 Architecture, an architectural design practice based in Chester. The lower floor becomes a games room and the ground floor an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space. It went in as a householder planning application to Wrexham County Borough Council and is now at the Building Regulations stage.
Planning an extension of your own? See our guide to house extensions, including costs and planning permission.
- In progress
- Two-storey side extension
- 42 m² per floor
- Wrexham
- Design & Approvals
The brief
The homeowners first came to us asking for a front extension to create a small kitchen diner. It would have added some space, but only a little, and it would have changed the front of the house for a modest gain.
After talking through how they really wanted to live, we proposed a better scheme. Instead of a small front extension, a two-storey side extension gives them 42 m² on each floor: an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space on the ground floor, a games room on the lower floor below, and a new 5.4 m² porch to give the house a proper front entrance. Far more space and a better layout, from the same conversation.
The design
The two-storey side extension adds 42 m² on each of its two floors. The ground floor opens up into a large kitchen, dining and living space, giving the family the sociable room the original kitchen diner was meant to be, with far more space. Below it, the lower floor becomes a dedicated games room, keeping noise and play away from the main living areas.
At the front, a new 5.4 m² porch gives the house a better-planned entrance, with somewhere to take off coats and shoes before stepping into the home. Building to the side rather than the front also keeps the street-facing look of the house balanced.
- Ground floorOpen-plan kitchen, dining and living space, 42 m²
- Lower floorGames room, 42 m²
- Front porchA new 5.4 m² entrance
- Side, not frontMore space than the original front extension idea, with a balanced front
Four decisions behind this side extension in Wrexham
A better idea than the first brief: instead of a small front kitchen diner, we proposed a two-storey side extension that gives the family around 84 m² of new space over two floors.
Living upstairs, play downstairs: the ground floor becomes an open-plan kitchen, dining and living space, with a separate games room below so each floor has a clear purpose.
A proper front entrance: a new 5.4 m² porch gives the house a practical, welcoming way in.
Planned for the Welsh rules: a two-storey side extension and a porch this size need planning permission in Wales, so the scheme went in as a single householder application to Wrexham County Borough Council.
The Middle Road extension in pictures
Images of the two-storey side extension and front porch at Middle Road in Wrexham. The project is at the Building Regulations stage, so these are design visualisations or drawings rather than photos of the finished build, and each one is labelled.
Two-storey extension questions, answered
Common questions from homeowners in Wrexham, Flintshire and Chester planning a project like Middle Road.
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Wales?
Yes, in most cases. In Wales, permitted development only allows single-storey side extensions, so a two-storey side extension needs a householder planning application to the local council, as Middle Road did with Wrexham County Borough Council. We prepare the drawings and handle the application for you. See our Design & Approvals service.
Does a front porch need planning permission?
A small porch can often be built without planning permission if its ground floor area is no more than 3 m², it is no more than 3 m high, and it is at least 2 m from a boundary next to a road. A larger porch, like the 5.4 m² porch at Middle Road, needs planning permission, and it can be included in the same householder application as the main extension.
What happens after planning permission is granted?
Next come the Building Regulations drawings, which show how the extension will be built: structure, insulation, fire safety, drainage and ventilation. They are approved by Building Control and give builders the detail they need to price the work accurately. A lower floor such as a games room needs particular care with waterproofing, ventilation and escape routes. See how our process works.
More projects we've designed
The Lair
A 21 m² single-storey side extension in Chester, adding family space and a new entrance.
St Mary Avenue
An 8 m² oak-framed glazed porch and open veranda in Barnoldswick, connecting the home with the garden.
Oak Close
A 38 m² rear extension in North Wales, replacing a garage and conservatory with a study, dining room, snug, reading nook and utility.
Planning an extension in Wrexham or Chester?
Book a free first home visit. We often find a better option than the one you first had in mind, and we talk through your ideas, budget and planning. Our design fee is agreed as a fixed fee in writing before any work starts, with no minimum fee.