Bude · EX23 · North Cornwall
House extensions in Bude — designed, permitted and built by one studio.
Single-storey rear extensions, two-storey side and rear additions, kitchen-diners and seaward glazed links across Bude, Stratton, Poughill, Marhamchurch and Widemouth Bay. Cornwall Council planning, Full Plans building regs and an optional full-build arm — one team from first sketch to handover.
What we do in Bude
Extension types we deliver most often around EX23.
Single-storey rear extensions
Open-plan kitchen-diners with glazed gables or lantern roofs — the most common ask across Bude and Stratton.
Two-storey side / rear extensions
Adding a bedroom and bathroom over a new kitchen — usually a full householder application inside the Conservation Area.
Kitchen extensions & wrap-arounds
L-shaped wrap-arounds to Victorian seaside terraces, with careful eaves and ridge alignment to the existing house.
Coastal / seaward glazed links
Glazed link elements on Maer Cliff and Widemouth-facing plots, designed for wind exposure and salt loading.
Garage conversions & garage-plus-room
Converting under-used garages into snugs, offices and utility rooms — Building Regs only when the use changes.
Listed and Conservation Area extensions
Considered, contemporary additions to the older town centre — designed to be read as new, not pastiche.
Local planning context
What Cornwall Council actually says about extending in Bude.
Conservation Area
The Bude–Stratton Conservation Area covers the canal, the seafront and the older town centre. Most works in this zone need full householder planning, not permitted development.
AONB & Heritage Coast
The Cornwall AONB and Heritage Coast designation runs across most of the parish boundary. Ridge heights, materials and seaward-facing elevations are scrutinised harder than inland sites.
Edge-of-town growth
Significant modern estate growth around the edges of Bude means like-for-like extensions on post-2000 estates are usually straightforward — often permitted development.
How it works
From first visit to keys — one studio, four stages.
1. Free first visit
We meet you in Bude, measure up, talk through what works on your plot and give you a written feasibility note within a week.
2. Planning
Householder application to Cornwall Council, Conservation / AONB justification where needed, officer liaison through to decision.
3. Building regs & tender
Full Plans pack at 1:50 with 1:10 junctions, structural engineering and SAP — issued for tender to your builder or ours.
4. On site
Optional full-build with our own team, or contract administration if you've appointed a Bude builder. One point of accountability either way.
Frequently asked
House extensions in Bude — straight answers.
- Do I need planning permission for a house extension in Bude?
- Many single-storey rear extensions in Bude sit inside permitted development, but anything inside the Bude–Stratton Conservation Area, the AONB or visible from the coast almost always needs a full householder application to Cornwall Council. We check your address against the GPDO and the local Article 4 directions on the first visit and give you a straight answer before you commit to design fees.
- How much does a house extension cost in Bude in 2026?
- Budget £2,300–£2,900 per m² built for a standard single-storey rear extension in Bude — slightly above the Cornwall average because of weather-tight detailing for the exposed north-coast climate and longer haulage for some material lines. A 25m² rear extension typically lands £58,000–£78,000 built. Maer Cliff and Crooklets-facing plots add 5–10% for upgraded fixings and render systems.
- How long does the planning process take with Cornwall Council from a Bude address?
- Validation in 5–10 working days, then an 8-week householder determination from validation. Conservation Area or AONB-sensitive cases sometimes go to extended determination at 10–12 weeks. We submit clean, complete packs first time so re-validation delays don't happen.
- Can you extend a Victorian Bude seaside house without losing character?
- Yes — and Cornwall planners actively prefer a clearly contemporary extension that doesn't pretend to be original Victorian. A glazed or rendered link element joining a modern rear box to the original house usually reads better than fake render-and-string-course pastiche. We design for the street and the parish, not to a template.
- Do you handle both planning and building regulations for Bude projects?
- Yes — same studio, same project lead. Planning drawings, Cornwall Council submission, officer liaison, Full Plans building regs at 1:50, junction details at 1:10, SAP / Part L compliance and structural engineering coordinated. One package, one fee schedule, no hand-offs to a third party.
- What about extensions inside the Cornwall AONB around Bude?
- Workable but design-led. Ridge height, roof pitch and material choice all carry extra weight inside the AONB boundary. Single-storey rear extensions tucked behind the house are normally fine; two-storey or seaward-facing additions need a tighter design rationale and often a short Landscape and Visual Impact note. We've worked across the north-coast AONB and know which moves Cornwall case officers accept.
- Can you build the extension as well as design it?
- Yes. We run a full-build arm for Bude clients who want one team and one point of accountability across design, planning, building regs and construction. For clients who already have a Bude or north-coast builder, we deliver a tender-ready Full Plans pack — no provisional sums, no 'builder to confirm' notes.
- Which areas around Bude do you cover?
- Bude town, Stratton, Poughill, Marhamchurch, Widemouth Bay, Kilkhampton, Bridgerule, Holsworthy edge, Boscastle and the surrounding north-coast villages. Free first visit across the EX23 / PL35 area — the studio is in Penzance and we travel north weekly.
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