North Cornwall · EX23
Design, planning and build for Morwenstow extension
Extensions are the bread and butter of Cornish homes — adding the kitchen-diner the original layout never had, the bedroom for a growing family, or the light and views the back of the house should always have had. Every Morwenstow project we take on begins with reading the local context — Morwenstow is a coastal village in the EX23 area, where sea exposure, views and seasonal pressure shape most building decisions, with a building stock that leans toward rendered coastal houses and granite cottages.
Morwenstow sits in North Cornwall — covering EX23 from Bude, Stratton, Poughill outward.
- Cornwall AONB
- Coastal exposure zone
- ✓ Free first site visit, no obligation
- ✓ One studio — design, planning and build under one roof
- ✓ Local to North Cornwall — not a national franchise
- ✓ Same team on paper as on site
Local proof — We typically have one or two extension jobs live in the EX23 area at any time, so the local planning officers know our drawings on sight.
Get a free feasibility viewLocal context
Why Morwenstow is its own job.
Cornwall Council's lens on Morwenstow is consistent: coastal setting and landscape sensitivity mean rooflines, glazing, drainage and external materials need careful handling from the first sketch. For extension specifically, the surrounding landscape falls inside the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so massing, height and landscape impact carry extra weight in any planning decision; coastal salt-laden air around Morwenstow drives detailing choices — fixings, render systems and timber treatments all need to be specified for exposure. That's why we treat every Morwenstow project as a EX23-area job first — not a generic Cornwall job with a postcode bolted on. The rendered coastal houses that dominate Morwenstow (and continue out toward Poughill) set the tone for any extension scheme here.
Planning note
Most extensions in Cornwall are either permitted development or a straightforward householder application — but Conservation Area and AONB sites need a more careful design conversation upfront.
What we focus on
Extensions considerations specific to Morwenstow.
01
Wind and sea-spray exposure can drive material choices on west-facing extensions; we detail accordingly.
02
Permitted development for rear extensions runs to four metres on a detached house, three on a semi or terrace — but Article 4 areas remove this in some parishes.
03
Extensions over a certain proportion of the original house trigger full Part L upgrade obligations to the existing building — worth knowing before brief is set.
04
Cornish granite and slate-hung walls react differently to new openings than modern brickwork — lintel choice and structural sequencing matter.
Our process
How a Morwenstow extension project runs.
Step 1
Brief
We meet on site, talk through how you live now and what's missing from the current layout.
Step 2
Design
Two or three sketch directions with rough budgets, then refinement of the chosen route.
Step 3
Approvals
Planning or Cert of Lawfulness, then a full building regs package.
Step 4
Build
Either through your own builder with our drawings, or as a full build by our team.
Step 5
Handover
Snag, certify, hand over the keys to your new space.
Typical single-storey rear extensions run twelve to twenty weeks on site; two-storey and wraparound projects sixteen to thirty weeks.
Local fabric
Why Morwenstow homeowners pick a local studio for extension.
Building stock
Across Morwenstow (EX23) we work on granite cottages, rendered coastal houses, holiday homes, bungalows, replacement dwellings. Each stock type drives a different extension response — rendered coastal houses in particular needs careful detailing here.
Parish & policy
Morwenstow sits in the parish of Morwenstow, which matters for how parish-level consultation lands on a extension application.
Coverage
We cover EX23 from our studio, with regular extension jobs also running in Bude, Stratton, Poughill. Most Morwenstow site visits get booked within the same week.
How quickly can you visit a Morwenstow site?
Usually within the same week. Morwenstow (EX23) is on our regular North Cornwall run, alongside Bude, Stratton, Poughill. First visits are free and you'll get an honest feasibility view inside seven days.
Request a free visitFAQs
Morwenstow Extensions — local questions answered.
- How long does the whole process take?
- Allow roughly three months for design and approvals, then twelve to twenty weeks on site for a typical single-storey extension. Wraparounds and two-storey add-ons take longer, mostly through approval and groundworks. In Morwenstow specifically, we'd start by checking AONB landscape sensitivity before committing to a direction.
- Do I need planning permission for an extension?
- Often no — single-storey rear extensions, side extensions and modest two-storey additions can sit inside permitted development on a typical detached house. Conservation Areas, AONB and Article 4 zones remove some of those rights, so we always check the address first.
- Will my house be liveable during the build?
- For most rear and side extensions, yes — we sequence the works so the kitchen and one bathroom stay functional until the new build is watertight and connected.
- How much does an extension cost in Cornwall?
- Build costs in Cornwall typically run from around £2,200 to £3,200 per square metre for a good-quality single-storey extension, more for kitchen-grade fit-out or complex glazing. We give a realistic budget before drawings start, not after.
- Can you handle the build as well as the design?
- Yes — that's the whole point of the studio. One contract, one point of contact, no finger-pointing between architect and builder when something needs a decision on site.
Morwenstow is part of Bude
Morwenstow sits inside the Bude catchment — we cover both as one extension territory.
See Extensions in Bude →Other services in Morwenstow
Nearby places we cover
To sum up, our extension approach in Morwenstow is built entirely around local Cornwall context, ensuring the best possible outcome for your property.