Nigg · Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

Two-storey extensions for detached houses in Nigg

Homes in Nigg with a bit of space to the side or rear can often take a two-storey extension for a detached house. We'll tell you honestly whether yours can, and what approvals it needs.

What we'd confirm first for a project in Nigg.

Postcode districts
AB12
County / area
Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, 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
Cove (1.2 miles), Aberdeen (1.9 miles), Portlethen (3.6 miles)
Distance to Aberdeen
about 1.9 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 AB12 in and around Nigg, along with neighbouring Cove, Aberdeen and Portlethen.

What it costs in Nigg

A guide price for Nigg: around £81,000–£108,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). That works out at £1,930–£2,580 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.

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 Nigg

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 Nigg 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

  1. Understand the brief

    At your home in Nigg we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.

  2. Drawings, then consent

    We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Scotland, and take it through the right consent with the council.

  3. Structure and building standards

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

  4. 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 Nigg

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

Nigg 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.

Who handles building standards for a project in Nigg?

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 Nigg?

We cover Nigg (AB12) and nearby places including Cove, Aberdeen and Portlethen, plus the rest of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The first site visit is free.

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 Nigg? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Nigg

All two-storey extension services in Nigg · Two-storey extensions for detached houses across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

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

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