Two-storey extensions for detached houses in Balerno

Before you start in Balerno, here's what applies.

Postcode districts: EH27
County / area: Edinburgh and the Lothians, Scotland
Price region: Scotland
Guide price: £81,000–£108,500 (£1,930–£2,580 per m²)
Approval route: Planning permission is usually needed: Class 1B permitted development only applies if every part of the extension is at least 10 m from all boundaries. A building warrant is needed before work starts.
Nearest towns: Currie (1.5 miles), Colinton (3.6 miles), Penicuik (5.7 miles)
Distance to Edinburgh: about 7.3 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a two-storey extension for a detached house

This service suits you if you own a detached house and want a substantial amount of extra space, whether a side extension over a drive, a rear extension into the garden or a wraparound. You get a survey of the whole plot, options that compare layouts and costs, the approvals your nation needs, structural design and the build, carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

We cover Balerno (EH27) and the places around it, including Currie (1.5 miles), Colinton (3.6 miles) and Penicuik.

What it costs in Balerno

In Scotland, which includes Balerno, we'd expect a two-storey extension for a detached house to cost around £81,000–£108,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), or £1,930–£2,580 per m² including VAT. Design fees, structural calculations and approval fees are separate and listed on our prices page.

Spec	Per m²	A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space)
Essential	£1,770–£2,380 per m²	£74,500–£100,000
Standard	£1,930–£2,580 per m²	£81,000–£108,500
Premium	£2,310–£3,100 per m²	£97,000–£130,500

Planning and building standards in Balerno

In Scotland, a detached house on a large plot may be able to use Class 1B permitted development if no part of the two-storey extension is within 10 m of any boundary, it is no higher than the house and is not in a conservation area. Otherwise a householder application costs £371. A building warrant is needed either way.

Approval in Scotland: Householder planning application: £371. Councils have two months to decide a local planning application.

Building standards: A building warrant from the council's building standards service before work starts, and a completion certificate at the end. Scotland uses its own Technical Handbooks.

Design points for Balerno homes

Larger spans and steelwork

Bigger extensions often mean wider openings and longer spans, which need more steel and sometimes a steel frame. The engineer designs these early, because the size of the steel affects ceiling heights, floor depths and the cost.

Keeping it subordinate

Large detached houses can take a large extension, but councils still expect it to look secondary to the main house. A lower ridge, a modest set-back at the front and matching materials keep the proportions right, even on a wide plot.

How we'd run your project

Measure and listen
A visit to Balerno to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Scotland before drawing in detail.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
Build and hand over
We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.

Questions about two-storey extensions for detached houses in Balerno

How much does a two-storey extension for a detached house cost in Balerno?

Our guide for Scotland, which covers Balerno, is £1,930–£2,580 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) comes to about £81,000–£108,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

How long does a two-storey extension for a detached house take?

Allow 4 to 8 weeks for survey and design, then the approval period (councils have two months to decide a local planning application), then 4 to 8 weeks of technical design, which can overlap. The build itself usually takes 14 to 20 weeks, longer for large or complex designs.

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey extension for a detached house in Balerno?

Balerno is in Scotland. Planning permission is usually needed: Class 1B permitted development only applies if every part of the extension is at least 10 m from all boundaries. A building warrant is needed before work starts.

Is a detached house extension a better investment than moving?

It often costs less than the gap between your house and a larger one nearby, once property tax, legal fees and removal costs are counted, but that depends on your area. Extending also has limits: every street has a ceiling price. We give you build costs so you can compare them with local asking prices.

Can I extend a detached house on both sides?

Sometimes. With planning permission, a council may accept extensions on both sides if the house stays well proportioned and keeps gaps to the boundaries. It is more common to extend on one side and the rear, or with a wraparound. We look at the plot as a whole before suggesting more than one extension.

Nearby

We also cover places near Balerno, including:

Other extensions in Balerno

All two-storey extension services in Balerno · Two-storey extensions for detached houses across Edinburgh and the Lothians

Tell us about your house in Balerno and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.