Two-storey extensions for detached houses in Lerwick
Adding a two-storey extension for a detached house in Lerwick gives you two new rooms stacked on one footprint. Here's how we'd approach it, what it typically costs and the rules that apply in Scotland.
We take on projects in Lerwick by arrangement. Site visits here aren't free as standard, and we'll agree travel costs with you in writing first.
Quick reference for homeowners in Lerwick.
- Postcode districts
- ZE1
- 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
- Kirkwall (102.7 miles), Thurso (136.6 miles), Wick (137 miles)
- Distance to Inverness
- about 215.1 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.
Around Lerwick we also work in Kirkwall, Thurso and Wick, and across the rest of the Highlands, Moray and Islands. Postcode district in and near Lerwick: ZE1.
What it costs in Lerwick
Using our Scotland rates, a two-storey extension for a detached house with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) comes to about £81,000–£108,500, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.
| 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 Lerwick
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 Lerwick 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.
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.
How we'd run your project
Visit by arrangement
We agree a visit to your home in Lerwick and any travel costs with you in writing first, then look at the structure, access and boundaries.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Scotland, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building warrant approval, then a written fixed price for the build.
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 Lerwick
Which postcodes do you cover around Lerwick?
We cover Lerwick (ZE1) and nearby places including Kirkwall, Thurso and Wick, plus the rest of the Highlands, Moray and Islands. Visits and projects in Lerwick are by arrangement, with travel costs agreed in writing first.
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 Lerwick?
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 Lerwick
- 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 Lerwick · Two-storey extensions for detached houses across the Highlands, Moray and Islands
The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Lerwick and give you an honest view of the options.