Two-storey extensions for detached houses in Queensferry
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 Queensferry, because the new floors share one set of foundations and one roof.
Useful details for planning a two-storey extension for a detached house in Queensferry.
- Postcode districts
- EH29 and EH30
- 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
- Rosyth (3.5 miles), Dalgety Bay (3.6 miles), Broxburn (4.8 miles)
- Distance to Edinburgh
- about 8.3 miles
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
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 EH29 and EH30 in and around Queensferry, along with neighbouring Rosyth, Dalgety Bay and Broxburn.
What it costs in Queensferry
A guide price for Queensferry: 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.
| 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 Queensferry
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 Queensferry 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
Measure and listen
A visit to Queensferry to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Plans, then approval
Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.
Price it properly
Once the engineer's calculations are in, we fix the build price in writing, with a clear list of what's included.
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 Queensferry
Who handles building standards for a project in Queensferry?
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.
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey extension for a detached house in Queensferry?
Queensferry 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 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.
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 Queensferry
- 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 Queensferry · Two-storey extensions for detached houses across Edinburgh and the Lothians
The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Queensferry and give you an honest view of the options.