Wick · Highlands, Moray and Islands

Two-storey extensions for detached houses in Wick

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 Wick, because the new floors share one set of foundations and one roof.

Wick is outside our usual mainland visit area, so visits and projects here are by arrangement. We'll agree any travel costs with you before anything is booked.

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

Postcode districts
KW1 and KW2
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
Thurso (18.9 miles), Lossiemouth (50.1 miles), Buckie (53 miles)
Distance to Inverness
about 78.2 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.

Wick sits about 78.2 miles from Inverness. Closer to home, Thurso is 18.9 miles away and Lossiemouth 50.1 miles.

What it costs in Wick

Guide prices for two-storey extensions for detached houses in Scotland are around £1,930–£2,580 per m² of new floor space, including VAT. For a typical project with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), that's roughly £81,000–£108,500. 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 Wick

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 Wick 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

  1. Visit by arrangement

    We agree a visit to your home in Wick and any travel costs with you in writing first, then look at the structure, access and boundaries.

  2. Choose the approval route

    Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Scotland before drawing in detail.

  3. Structure and building standards

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

  4. 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 Wick

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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Wick?

We cover Wick (KW1 and KW2) and nearby places including Thurso, Lossiemouth and Buckie, plus the rest of the Highlands, Moray and Islands. Visits and projects in Wick are by arrangement, with travel costs agreed in writing first.

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

Wick 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.

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

We also cover places near Wick, including:

Other extensions in Wick

All two-storey extension services in Wick · Two-storey extensions for detached houses across the Highlands, Moray and Islands

Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Wick.

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