Mayfield · Edinburgh and the Lothians

Two-storey extensions for detached houses in Mayfield

Want to stay in Mayfield but need more space? A two-storey extension for a detached house adds floor area on two levels without giving up much garden. Here's what's involved.

Mayfield: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts
EH37
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
Gorebridge (1.8 miles), Dalkeith (1.9 miles), Bonnyrigg (2.6 miles)
Distance to Edinburgh
about 8.3 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.

We cover postcode district EH37 in and around Mayfield, along with neighbouring Gorebridge, Dalkeith and Bonnyrigg.

What it costs in Mayfield

Expect a two-storey extension for a detached house in Mayfield to land somewhere around £81,000–£108,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). Our Scotland guide rate is £1,930–£2,580 per m², including VAT. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.

SpecPer m²A 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 Mayfield

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 Mayfield 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.

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

  1. Measure and listen

    A visit to Mayfield to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.

  2. Design and approvals

    We draw the extension and check it against the rules for Scotland, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.

  3. Structure and building standards

    A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get a building warrant before work starts.

  4. 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 Mayfield

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

Mayfield 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 Mayfield?

We cover Mayfield (EH37) and nearby places including Gorebridge, Dalkeith and Bonnyrigg, plus the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building standards for a project in Mayfield?

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 Mayfield? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Mayfield

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

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