Two-storey extensions for detached houses in Bathgate

The basics for Bathgate at a glance.

Postcode districts: EH48
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: Armadale (2.5 miles), Whitburn (2.9 miles), Livingston (4.7 miles)
Distance to Edinburgh: about 17.7 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.

Around Bathgate we also work in Armadale, Whitburn and Livingston, and across the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. Postcode district in and near Bathgate: EH48.

What it costs in Bathgate

For budgeting in Bathgate, allow around £81,000–£108,500 for a two-storey extension for a detached house with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). That's based on £1,930–£2,580 per m² including VAT for Scotland. We'll give you a written design-stage price first, then a fixed build price once the drawings are agreed.

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 Bathgate

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 Bathgate homes

Choosing the best side

On a detached house you can often extend on either side or the rear. We look at orientation for daylight, where the stairs and landing are, the distance to each boundary, drains and trees, so the extension goes where it adds the most useful space.

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

Visit and first ideas
One of our team visits your house in Bathgate, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Scotland, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Structure and building standards
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get a building warrant before work starts.
Build
Foundations, walls, floor, roof, windows, then first and second fix. We break through into the house as late as we can.

Questions about two-storey extensions for detached houses in Bathgate

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.

Who handles building standards for a project in Bathgate?

We handle it as part of the project. What's needed in Scotland: 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. We prepare the drawings and the engineer's calculations, book the inspections and pass you the completion paperwork at the end.

Which postcodes do you cover around Bathgate?

We cover Bathgate (EH48) and nearby places including Armadale, Whitburn and Livingston, plus the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. The first site visit is free.

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.

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.

Nearby

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in Bathgate

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

Want a figure first? Try our guide price tool, then book a free visit to firm it up.