Two-storey extensions for detached houses in Kelso

The basics for Kelso at a glance.

Postcode districts: TD3, TD5 and TD10
County / area: The Scottish Borders, 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: Jedburgh (9.4 miles), Galashiels (14.6 miles), Selkirk (16.2 miles)
Distance to Hawick: about 18.4 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a two-storey extension for a detached house

A two-storey extension for a detached house is a two-floor addition to the side, rear or both of a house that stands on its own plot. Detached houses often have room on more than one side, so there is more choice of layout and fewer shared-wall issues. The design still needs to respect boundaries, neighbours' windows and the look of the house.

Around Kelso we also work in Jedburgh, Galashiels and Selkirk, and across the rest of the Scottish Borders. Postcode districts in and near Kelso: TD3, TD5 and TD10.

What it costs in Kelso

In Scotland, which includes Kelso, 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. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately 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 Kelso

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 Kelso homes

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.

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.

How we'd run your project

Look at the house
We start in Kelso with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Scotland before drawing in detail.
Structure and building standards
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get a building warrant before work starts.
Finish and certify
Second fix, plastering and making good, then the council's final building standards inspection and the completion paperwork.

Questions about two-storey extensions for detached houses in Kelso

Which postcodes do you cover around Kelso?

We cover Kelso (TD3, TD5 and TD10) and nearby places including Jedburgh, Galashiels and Selkirk, plus the rest of the Scottish Borders. The first site visit is free.

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 Kelso?

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.

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

Close to Kelso? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Kelso

All two-storey extension services in Kelso · Two-storey extensions for detached houses across the Scottish Borders

Book a free site visit in Kelso and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.