Two-storey extensions for detached houses in Kirkwall
A two-storey extension for a detached house is one of the most space-efficient ways to add bedrooms and living space to a house in Kirkwall, because the new floors share one set of foundations and one roof.
Kirkwall is outside our usual mainland visit area, so visits and projects here are by arrangement. We'll agree any travel costs with you before anything is booked.
Kirkwall: the key facts for this kind of project.
- Postcode districts
- KW15 and KW17
- County / area
- The Highlands, Moray and Islands, 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
- Thurso (33.9 miles), Wick (38 miles), Lossiemouth (88.1 miles)
- Distance to Inverness
- about 113.8 miles
- First visit
- By arrangement
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 postcode districts KW15 and KW17 in and around Kirkwall, along with neighbouring Thurso, Wick and Lossiemouth.
What it costs in Kirkwall
Most of the cost of a two-storey extension for a detached house is set by its size and specification. For Kirkwall and the rest of Scotland, our guide is £1,930–£2,580 per m² including VAT, so about £81,000–£108,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). Kitchens, bathroom fittings and flooring are priced separately so you can compare like with like.
| 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 Kirkwall
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 Kirkwall 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
Visit by arrangement
We agree a visit to your home in Kirkwall and any travel costs with you in writing first, then look at the structure, access and boundaries.
Plans, then approval
Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
On site
One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.
Questions about two-storey extensions for detached houses in Kirkwall
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey extension for a detached house in Kirkwall?
Kirkwall 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.
Which postcodes do you cover around Kirkwall?
We cover Kirkwall (KW15 and KW17) and nearby places including Thurso, Wick and Lossiemouth, plus the rest of the Highlands, Moray and Islands. Visits and projects in Kirkwall are by arrangement, with travel costs agreed in writing first.
Who handles building standards for a project in Kirkwall?
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.
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
Nearby towns we cover for two-storey extensions for detached houses:
Other extensions in Kirkwall
- Rear
- Side
- Wraparound
- Part two-storey
- Over a garage
- First floor
- Semi-detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Kirkwall · Two-storey extensions for detached houses across the Highlands, Moray and Islands
Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Kirkwall.