Rothesay · Argyll and Bute

Extensions over a garage in Rothesay

Our extensions over a garage service in Rothesay covers everything: measured survey, design, planning or permitted development checks, structural design, building control and the build itself.

Rothesay 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 Rothesay.

Postcode districts
PA20 and PA21
County / area
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Price region
Scotland
Guide price
£29,500–£43,000 (£1,640–£2,400 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
Largs (8 miles), Dunoon (9.3 miles), Gourock (12.6 miles)
Distance to Helensburgh
about 17.3 miles
First visit
By arrangement

About an extension over a garage

An extension over a garage is a new first-floor room built on top of an existing attached garage, usually a bedroom, en-suite or study. It uses a footprint you already have, so it adds floor space without taking any garden. The garage walls and foundations often need strengthening or replacing to carry the new floor.

Around Rothesay we also work in Largs, Dunoon and Gourock, and across the rest of Argyll and Bute. Postcode districts in and near Rothesay: PA20 and PA21.

What it costs in Rothesay

In Scotland, which includes Rothesay, we'd expect an extension over a garage to cost around £29,500–£43,000 for 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²), or £1,640–£2,400 per m² including VAT. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.

SpecPer m²3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²)
Essential£1,510–£2,210 per m²£27,000–£39,500
Standard£1,640–£2,400 per m²£29,500–£43,000
Premium£1,970–£2,880 per m²£35,500–£52,000

Planning and building standards in Rothesay

In Scotland, a room over a garage makes the extension more than one storey, so Class 1B applies, which needs at least 10 m to every boundary for permitted development. Attached garages are rarely that far from the boundary, so expect a householder application (£371, decided within two months) and a building warrant.

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 Rothesay homes

Floor levels and headroom

Garage floors are often lower than the house, and the new first floor may not line up with the existing landing. We set the floor level to avoid awkward steps upstairs, while keeping enough headroom in the garage below for a car or storage.

Checking the garage foundations

Garages are often built on shallow strip footings sized for a single-storey wall and a light roof. A trial hole shows their depth and condition, and the engineer decides whether they can carry two storeys or need underpinning or new foundations inside the garage.

How we'd run your project

  1. Visit by arrangement

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

  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. Fixed price in writing

    With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.

  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 extensions over a garage in Rothesay

Do I need planning permission for an extension over a garage in Rothesay?

Rothesay 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 an extension over a garage cost in Rothesay?

Our guide for Scotland, which covers Rothesay, is £1,640–£2,400 per m² including VAT. A typical project with 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²) comes to about £29,500–£43,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Which postcodes do you cover around Rothesay?

We cover Rothesay (PA20 and PA21) and nearby places including Largs, Dunoon and Gourock, plus the rest of Argyll and Bute. Visits and projects in Rothesay are by arrangement, with travel costs agreed in writing first.

How do I get into a room over the garage?

Usually through a new opening off the existing landing or a bedroom, so the stairs stay where they are. If the floor levels do not match, a step or two may be needed inside the new room. Where a landing opening is not practical, a new stair from a converted garage is an option.

Do I need to convert the garage as well?

No. You can keep the garage for parking or storage and build only the room above, as long as the floor between them and any door into the house meet fire separation rules. Converting the garage at the same time is often good value, because the walls and foundations may be upgraded anyway.

Nearby

Other towns near Rothesay:

Other extensions in Rothesay

All two-storey extension services in Rothesay · Extensions over a garage across Argyll and Bute

The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Rothesay and give you an honest view of the options.

CallGuide price