Two-storey extensions for detached houses in North Berwick

North Berwick: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts: EH31, EH39 and EH40
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: Haddington (7.4 miles), Dunbar (9 miles), Cockenzie (11.3 miles)
Distance to Edinburgh: about 19.7 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 North Berwick we also work in Haddington, Dunbar and Cockenzie, and across the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. Postcode districts in and near North Berwick: EH31, EH39 and EH40.

What it costs in North Berwick

In Scotland, which includes North Berwick, 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. We'll give you a written design-stage price first, then a fixed build price once the drawings are agreed.

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 North Berwick

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 North Berwick 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

Look at the house
We start in North Berwick with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
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.
Structure and building standards
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get a building warrant before work starts.
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 North Berwick

Which postcodes do you cover around North Berwick?

We cover North Berwick (EH31, EH39 and EH40) and nearby places including Haddington, Dunbar and Cockenzie, plus the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. The first site visit is free.

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

North Berwick 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.

How much does a two-storey extension for a detached house cost in North Berwick?

Our guide for Scotland, which covers North Berwick, is £1,930–£2,580 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) comes to about £81,000–£108,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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

Other towns near North Berwick:

Other extensions in North Berwick

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

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