Builders in Haywards Heath
Most extension budgets in Haywards Heath are made up of more than the builder's price, and knowing the other costs early helps you plan with confidence. When you are ready, we can put you in touch with up to 3 checked builders in Haywards Heath for free, no obligation quotes.
Homes in Haywards Heath and the villages around it
Haywards Heath grew largely after the railway arrived in the 19th century, so its older streets include Victorian and Edwardian houses, with inter-war, post-war and more recent estates built around them. Nearby villages such as Lindfield and Cuckfield have older centres of their own, with a mix of period cottages and later family homes around them. Rear and side extensions are common requests in the town, along with loft conversions in houses with enough roof height. Because the housing varies so much, two similar sounding projects can cost very different amounts. The sections below set out the main parts of a budget, using published figures from named sources.
Setting a realistic build budget
Less.co.uk is one of the few sources with a South East figure, putting a mid range single storey extension at £1,900 to £2,900 per m² in the region. It states that this excludes VAT, professional fees and interior fit-out, so the figure covers the build rather than the finished room. Less also lists extras that can add to the total, including bi-fold doors at £3,000 to £6,000, a roof lantern at £1,500 to £3,500 and underfloor heating at £50 to £80 per m². It adds that difficult ground can add £2,000 to £8,000 and restricted access 5 to 10%. You can try different sizes in our extension cost calculator, which uses Less.co.uk's published rates.
Professional fees before work starts
Most extensions need drawings for planning and building regulations, and many need structural calculations as well. These published figures give a sense of scale, although MyJobQuote does not say whether its fees include VAT. They are national figures rather than prices for Mid Sussex.
- Planning drawings for an extension: £3,000 to £5,000 (MyJobQuote).
- Building regulations and tender drawings: £7,000 to £12,000 (MyJobQuote).
- Structural design for an extension: £400 to £2,000 (MyJobQuote).
- CIAT architectural technologist: 2 to 5% of build cost (Homebuilding and Renovating).
Fees depend on how much of the design and management you hand over. Some designers prepare planning drawings only, while others take a project through building regulations and tender. Ask each one exactly what their fee includes before you compare them.
Planning fees and permitted development
Haywards Heath is in Mid Sussex, so Mid Sussex District Council is the place to check planning questions. If your extension needs householder planning permission, GOV.UK sets the fee in England at £548 for a single dwellinghouse from 1 April 2026. If you want a larger single storey rear extension under permitted development, of up to six metres or eight metres for a detached house, the prior approval fee is £249. GOV.UK guidance says work cannot start until the council confirms prior approval is not needed, or 42 days pass without a decision. Our guide to extension planning permission explains the main limits, and the council can confirm whether they apply to your home.
Mid Sussex building control charges
Building control is a separate cost from planning. Mid Sussex District Council publishes its charges for extensions by internal floor area, and the figures below are its charges from April 2025, the latest schedule we found. Your designer or builder can tell you which size band your extension falls into.
| Extension size | Plan charge (plus VAT) | Inspection charge (plus VAT) | Building notice (plus VAT) | Regularisation (no VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 15m² | £192 | £505 | £697 | £1,045.50 |
| Over 15m² up to 60m² | £266 | £650 | £916 | £1,374 |
| Over 60m² up to 100m² | £328 | £859 | £1,187 | £1,780.50 |
The council states that all charges other than regularisation are subject to VAT at the current rate. Where several pieces of work are done together, it charges in full for the most expensive and 50% for the others. Check the council's website for its current charges, or ask a private registered building control approver, who sets its own fee.
Newer homes and planning conditions
If you live in a house built in recent decades, read your property's planning history before relying on permitted development. The Planning Portal notes that the rules do not apply where a planning condition, an Article 4 Direction or another restriction removes them, and some newer developments were approved with conditions of this kind. The council can tell you whether any apply to your address. Rules also differ for flats, maisonettes, listed buildings and conservation areas, so if your home is in the older part of Lindfield or Cuckfield, ask the council whether it is in a conservation area. A lawful development certificate is not compulsory, but the Planning Portal says one for a proposed use costs half the normal planning fee.
Comparing quotes in Haywards Heath
Once you have a rough budget, tell us about the project and we will pass your details to up to 3 checked builders who cover Haywards Heath. They will be in touch to arrange a visit and a quote, and the service is free with no obligation. Ask each builder to list what is included, such as foundations, windows, electrics and finishes, so you can compare like with like. You can also call 01273 115520.
Areas covered nearby
Building services we cover
Frequently asked questions
How much does a single storey extension cost in Haywards Heath?+
No published source gives prices for Haywards Heath itself. Less.co.uk puts a mid range single storey extension in the South East at £1,900 to £2,900 per m², excluding VAT, professional fees and interior fit-out. Written quotes for your own home are the only reliable figure.
Are the Mid Sussex building control charges current?+
The figures on this page are Mid Sussex District Council's charges from April 2025, the most recent schedule we found when we checked in October 2026. Check the council's website before you apply, as charges are reviewed from time to time.
Should I use full plans or a building notice?+
GOV.UK says a building notice suits smaller projects and lets work start two days after submission, but without formal plan approval. Full plans gives you a decision before work begins, within five weeks or two months with your consent, which many people prefer for an extension.
Which villages near Haywards Heath do your builders cover?+
Builders in our network cover Haywards Heath and villages such as Lindfield, Cuckfield, Scaynes Hill and Ardingly. If you live to the south, see our page for [Burgess Hill](/burgess-hill/).
Sources for the prices on this page
Prices are published UK averages and include labour. Every job is different, so the quotes you receive will reflect your own property, access and materials.
- Less.co.uk: House extension cost per m² in 2026, checked October 2026
- MyJobQuote: How much does an architect cost? UK architect fees guide 2026, checked October 2026
- MyJobQuote: Structural engineer costs, checked October 2026
- Homebuilding and Renovating: How much does an extension cost in 2026?, checked October 2026
- Mid Sussex District Council: Building control charges from April 2025, checked October 2026
- GOV.UK: Fees for planning applications in England from 1 April 2026, checked October 2026
- GOV.UK: Permitted development rights for householders, technical guidance, checked October 2026
- Planning Portal: Planning permission for extensions, checked October 2026
- Planning Portal: Lawful development certificates, checked October 2026
- GOV.UK: Building regulations approval, how to apply, checked October 2026
Compare up to 3 free quotes
Tell us about the job and up to 3 checked local builders will be in touch with quotes. There is no charge and no obligation. Or call 01273 115520.