Home Extensions in Witney & West Oxfordshire
KD Design provides architectural design and planning services for house extensions, renovations and individual homes throughout Witney, West Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds, including Eynsham, Woodstock, Burford, Charlbury, Kingham, Bampton, Long Hanborough, Great Tew and the surrounding villages.
Single or two storey extensions?
Our analysis of West Oxfordshire householder planning applications between 2016 and 2025 shows that around 67% of extensions are single storey, while approximately one third include two storey development.
Two storey extensions can be considerably more challenging from a planning perspective. Our analysis shows that a two storey extension in West Oxfordshire has historically been more than three times as likely to be refused as a single storey extension.
There are good reasons for this. Adding an upper floor increases the potential impact on neighbouring properties, particularly through loss of daylight, overlooking and an increased sense of enclosure. The additional height and mass also make the relationship between the extension and the original house more important. An extension that appears relatively modest at ground floor level can become much more prominent when continued upwards.
Good design can overcome many of these issues. Setting the upper floor away from a sensitive boundary, reducing its width or projection, carefully positioning windows and keeping the new work visually subordinate to the original house can all make a significant difference to gain planning officer support. Within West Oxfordshire's Conservation Areas and historic villages, the proportions, roof form and choice of materials may require particularly careful consideration.
KD Design has extensive experience designing single and two storey extensions throughout Witney and West Oxfordshire, balancing the additional space a client wants with the planning constraints of the site.
Planning a two storey extension? → Read our guide to Two Storey Extensions
Our Projects across West Oxfordshire
West Oxfordshire is home to 51 Conservation Areas along with around 3,200 Listed Buildings and structures, making heritage and local character an important consideration for many extension and renovation projects. Over the last 10 years, around one third of our approved house extension projects in West Oxfordshire have involved homes within a Conservation Area, and we have also gained a number of approvals for works to listed buildings.
But we don’t only work on historic projects, we have completed numerous extensions to more modern properties.
From contemporary extensions in Eynsham to two storey additions in Witney and sensitive projects in villages including Combe, Bampton and Cassington, KD Design has extensive experience designing and gaining planning permission for homes throughout West Oxfordshire.
Two storey extension to existing house, Hailey
New Double garage with Guest bedroom & Ensuite above, Hailey
Single storey rear extension, Cogges, Witney
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Two storey side extension, Hailey
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Single storey rear extension, Standlake
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Two storey extension, Witney road, Eynsham
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Single storey rear extension to Grade II listed house in Eynsham
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New Double garage with Guest bedroom and Ensuite above, Hailey
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Part single, part Two Storey extension to existing Cotswold stone house in Eynsham conservation area
Understanding West Oxfordshire's architectural character
West Oxfordshire has a remarkably varied architectural character, particularly within its many designated Conservation Areas. Around Burford, Kingham, Charlbury and Woodstock, locally sourced limestone gives many villages their characteristic warm Cotswold appearance, often with narrow gables, steep roofs and natural stone slate, including the famous Stonesfield slate historically produced near Woodstock. Further north and east, around Great Tew and the Bartons, the local stone becomes noticeably darker and warmer, producing the rich orange-brown ironstone buildings characteristic of this part of the district.
Further south, the traditional palette becomes more varied. Witney, Eynsham and Bampton contain buildings in limestone alongside red Oxford brick, lime render, clay tiles and slate. The arrival of the railway during the 19th century also made previously expensive imported materials much more accessible. In Witney, for example, brick became increasingly viable for Victorian buildings, while Welsh slate also began to appear alongside traditional local stone slate.
Local character remains relevant throughout West Oxfordshire, but requires particular consideration when working within a Conservation Area or with a Listed Building. Here, the design, scale, materials and relationship between new and historic fabric can be fundamental to gaining planning permission.
Can a modern extension work with a historic building?
Extending a historic or Listed Building does not necessarily mean copying the architecture of the original. In the right setting, a carefully considered contemporary extension can be particularly successful, creating a clear distinction between old and new while allowing the character and craftsmanship of the original building to remain legible.
The key is sensitivity rather than imitation. Scale, proportions, materials, views and the connection between old and new all need careful consideration. Contemporary glazing, simple forms and a restrained palette of materials can sit beautifully alongside traditional Cotswold stone, while providing the light, space and connection to the garden expected from a modern home.
For this project KD Design worked in collaboration with Interior designers Rogue Designs to deliver a fully integrated architectural, interior, and landscaping package.
Find out more about this project here → Modern extension to Grade II listed building
From planning permission to construction
A successful extension needs more than a good planning design. Once permission is secured, KD Design will develop the project through Building Regulations and detailed technical design, turning the approved proposals into a coordinated set of information that a builder can accurately price and construct.
We consider the practical details early, including foundation design & structure, insulation, roof and wall junctions, drainage, windows and doors, materials and how new construction connects with the existing house. We also coordinate the input of structural engineers, energy assessors and other specialists where required. Clear, detailed construction information helps remove assumptions for the builder, improves cost certainty and reduces the risk of difficult or expensive decisions being left until work is underway.
During construction, KD Design can provide the role of Principal Designer and remain involved throughout the build, helping to respond to technical queries and coordinate design matters as they arise.
To view more projects, click here
Let’s Work Together!
Do you have some big ideas and need some help bringing them to life? Then please reach out. We’d love to hear from you and learn about your project, and to get the ball rolling we’d be happy to offer some initial informal advice free of charge.
Please Contact us and we’ll be in touch to discuss further at a time that suits you.