Extra bedroom and en-suite extensions in Dunbar
Want to stay in Dunbar but need more space? An extra bedroom and en-suite extension adds floor area on two levels without giving up much garden. Here's what's involved.
The basics for Dunbar at a glance.
- Postcode districts
- EH42
- County / area
- Edinburgh and the Lothians, Scotland
- Price region
- Scotland
- Guide price
- £52,500–£71,000 (£1,880–£2,540 per m²), plus £5,500–£11,000 for the en-suite
- 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
- North Berwick (9 miles), Haddington (10.8 miles), Tranent (17.4 miles)
- Distance to Edinburgh
- about 26.6 miles
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
About an extra bedroom and en-suite extension
An extra bedroom and en-suite extension is a two-storey extension planned around a new double bedroom with its own shower room on the first floor, with a ground-floor room below. It is one of the most effective ways to add space for a growing family. Nationwide's 2025 research linked adding a double bedroom and bathroom to a three-bed, one-bathroom house with value gains of up to 24%.
Around Dunbar we also work in North Berwick, Haddington and Tranent, and across the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. Postcode district in and near Dunbar: EH42.
What it costs in Dunbar
Using our Scotland rates, an extra bedroom and en-suite extension with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) comes to about £52,500–£71,000 (plus £5,500–£11,000 for the en-suite), including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². We'll give you a written design-stage price first, then a fixed build price once the drawings are agreed.
| Spec | Per m² | A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,730–£2,330 per m² | £48,500–£65,500 |
| Standard | £1,880–£2,540 per m² | £52,500–£71,000 |
| Premium | £2,260–£3,050 per m² | £63,000–£85,500 |
Planning and building standards in Dunbar
In Scotland, an extra bedroom on a new first floor makes the extension more than one storey, so Class 1B applies, needing at least 10 m to every boundary. Most plots need a householder application, which costs £371 and is decided within two months. The building warrant then covers the escape window, ventilation and drainage.
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 Dunbar homes
Escape window and fire safety
A new first-floor bedroom needs an escape window with a clear opening of at least 0.33 m², at least 450 mm wide and high, and the bottom no more than 1,100 mm above the floor, unless there is a protected route to the stairs. We design the windows to meet this.
Sound and privacy
Bedrooms above a kitchen or family room benefit from an insulated floor to reduce noise. Side-facing upstairs windows usually have to be obscure-glazed, so we place the main bedroom window to the rear and the en-suite window to the side where possible.
How we'd run your project
Look at the house
We start in Dunbar with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Scotland, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building warrant approval, then a written fixed price for the build.
Build and sign-off
Vetted teams working under S&K build the extension, and we arrange the completion certificate at the end.
Questions about extra bedroom and en-suite extensions in Dunbar
How long does an extra bedroom and en-suite extension 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.
Do I need planning permission for an extra bedroom and en-suite extension in Dunbar?
Dunbar 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 extra bedroom and en-suite extension cost in Dunbar?
Our guide for Scotland, which covers Dunbar, is £1,880–£2,540 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) comes to about £52,500–£71,000 (plus £5,500–£11,000 for the en-suite). Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.
What goes on the ground floor below a new bedroom?
Whatever suits you: a bigger kitchen, a family room, a study, a utility or a downstairs shower room. The ground floor usually costs about the same whatever it is used for, apart from kitchen units and bathroom fittings, which are priced separately.
Does an extra bedroom add value to my house?
It usually does, though not always by the full cost. Nationwide's 2025 research found that adding a double bedroom to a two-bed house was linked to about 13% higher value, and a double bedroom and bathroom on a three-bed, one-bathroom house up to 24%. Local ceiling prices still apply.
Nearby
We also cover places near Dunbar, including:
Other extensions in Dunbar
All two-storey extension services in Dunbar · Extra bedroom and en-suite extensions across Edinburgh and the Lothians
Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Dunbar.