House Extensions Chepstow from a Family-Run Builder
Forest Edge Construction builds house extensions in Chepstow and across Monmouthshire, the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean. Owner Matthew Barker stays involved in every project, from the first site visit to the day you move into the new rooms.
- Builders of the pool pavilion at a RIBA House of the Year
- Architect-designed projects welcome
- References and visits to finished jobs
Tell us about your project
Send a few details and Matthew will get back to you.
- Owner-managedMatthew Barker on every job
- Family-run since 2010Forest of Dean based
- One coordinated teamTrades, specialists and suppliers
- Chepstow and MonmouthshireWye Valley and Forest of Dean
House extensions in Chepstow, built to belong to the house
An extension should feel like part of the home, not a box added to the back of it. We build single-storey extensions, larger additions over more than one level and glazed links that join new space to an older house, on level plots and on steep, awkward ones.
At Penfold Cottage, pictured, we removed a tired side extension and cut a far bigger one into the slope, over several levels, linked to the original cottage by an open-plan living room.
- Planned with your designerWe work from your architect’s drawings, or with you on the ideas
- Groundwork and structureDigging out, foundations, retaining walls and the shell
- Finished insideKitchens, bathrooms and finishes, coordinated by us
More than extensions
From one-off new homes to careful work on period properties, we cover the whole build, inside and out.
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Barn and Property Conversions
Barns and older buildings turned into homes, with the old fabric repaired rather than covered up.
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Bespoke New Builds
One-off new homes and technically demanding builds on difficult sites.
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Renovations and Refurbishments
Whole-house renovations and refurbishments, from opening up rooms to new staircases and finishes.
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Groundworks and Landscaping
Retaining walls, driveways, patios and hard landscaping, planned as carefully as the building.
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Kitchens
Cottage-style kitchens and large open-plan family spaces, planned around how you live.
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Bathrooms
Wet rooms, en-suites and family bathrooms, turned from ideas into finished rooms.
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Maintenance and Repairs
Roof leaks, damp, remedial work and smaller improvements for modern and period homes.
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Something else in mind?
Tell us about the project and we will tell you honestly whether it is one for us.
Call 07837 700315
Recent projects
A few of the builds we have taken on around the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley.
Windward House pool pavilion
Alison Brooks Architects designed this pavilion beside the pool at Windward House, and it was an intricate build. Before starting we knocked down the old pool building and crushed its rubble into a track for deliveries. From there it was close teamwork with the design team, the specialist firms and our suppliers to get a finish good enough for the house.
The house went on to be named RIBA House of the Year 2021 on Channel 4’s Grand Designs: House of the Year.
Perry Barn
Barn conversion
A working barn became a light, four-bedroom family home, with a new roof carrying solar panels and the brickwork repaired in original bricks and lime mortar.
What our clients say
Most of our work comes from recommendations. Here is what three clients told us, in brief.
Matt’s team has done a number of jobs for us, from rebuilding three chimney stacks to a new single-storey extension, seven metres by three and a half, dug into a hillside, with a big stone-faced retaining wall. They kept us informed all the way and kept to their estimates.
Ian and SueSingle-storey extension
We chose Matt for his groundwork know-how as much as his bricklaying, as our job needed a lot of digging out. His contacts across the trade were a real help when the roofing came round.
Homeowner, Penfold Cottage, PillowellMulti-level extension
Superb workmanship, sound advice and good timekeeping. They kept coming through bad weather over Christmas so the job finished on time, and we would be glad to recommend them for any building work.
Jane and RichardBuilding project
Questions about house extensions in Chepstow
Answers to the things people usually ask before they start planning an extension.
Do you build house extensions in Chepstow?
Yes. Chepstow and the rest of Monmouthshire are part of the area we cover, along with the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and South Wales. We take on house extensions of every size, from single-storey rooms to larger additions over more than one level.
What kinds of extension do you build?
Single-storey extensions, larger multi-level extensions, glazed links that join a new wing to an older house, and kitchen and living extensions. We also convert barns and outbuildings, and build one-off new homes.
Do I need planning permission for an extension in Chepstow?
It depends on the size and position of the extension and on where the house is. Planning in Chepstow is handled by Monmouthshire County Council, and the rules for building without an application are tighter in conservation areas and in the Wye Valley National Landscape. Building regulations approval is needed either way. Your architect or designer can advise, and we are happy to talk it through with them.
Can you work with my architect or designer?
Yes. Much of our work is for architect-designed projects, and we keep you, your designer and any specialist firms in step so each stage is coordinated. Red Roses was designed by Hall + Bednarczyk Architects of Chepstow, and the Windward House pool pavilion by Alison Brooks Architects.
What materials do you build with?
Brick, natural stone, timber and steel frame, and large areas of glazing, chosen to suit the house and the plot. On older buildings we repair with matching materials, such as the original bricks and lime mortar we used at Perry Barn.
Can you build on a sloping or awkward plot?
Yes. Difficult sites are a regular part of our work. At Penfold Cottage we cut a multi-level extension into the slope beside the house, and for another client we cut a single-storey extension into a hillside behind a stone-faced retaining wall.
Who will manage my project?
Owner Matthew Barker. He stays closely involved from the first conversation to completion, so you have one clear point of contact, and he brings in trusted tradespeople, specialists and suppliers as the job needs them.
Can I see work you have done before?
Yes. We are happy to give references and, where it is possible, to take you round a finished project so you can judge the work in person before you decide.
Chepstow and the surrounding area
We work in Chepstow and the villages around it on both sides of the Wye, as well as across Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and South Wales.
- Chepstow
- Caldicot
- Tutshill
- Sedbury
- St Arvans
- Shirenewton
- Tintern
- Magor
- Monmouth
- Lydney
Planning an extension in Chepstow?
Send us your drawings or a few details about what you have in mind, and Matthew will talk the next steps through with you.