First-floor extensions in Dalkeith

Quick reference for homeowners in Dalkeith.

Postcode districts: EH22
County / area: Edinburgh and the Lothians, Scotland
Price region: Scotland
Guide price: £23,500–£34,000 (£1,690–£2,440 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: Mayfield (1.9 miles), Bonnyrigg (2 miles), Gorebridge (3.4 miles)
Distance to Edinburgh: about 6.4 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a first-floor extension

A first-floor extension is a new upstairs room built on top of an existing single-storey part of your house, such as a rear kitchen extension, a utility or a side annexe. It adds a bedroom, bathroom or study without enlarging the footprint. Whether it works depends mainly on whether the walls and foundations below can carry the extra load.

We cover Dalkeith (EH22) and the places around it, including Mayfield (1.9 miles), Bonnyrigg (2.0 miles) and Gorebridge.

What it costs in Dalkeith

In Scotland, which includes Dalkeith, we'd expect a first-floor extension to cost around £23,500–£34,000 for 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²), or £1,690–£2,440 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	4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²)
Essential	£1,560–£2,250 per m²	£22,000–£31,500
Standard	£1,690–£2,440 per m²	£23,500–£34,000
Premium	£2,030–£2,930 per m²	£28,500–£41,000

Planning and building standards in Dalkeith

In Scotland, permitted development for extensions of more than one storey (Class 1B) needs at least 10 m to every boundary and no part higher than the house. Most first-floor extensions cannot meet the 10 m test, so plan for a householder application (£371, decided within two months) and a building warrant before work starts.

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 Dalkeith homes

Escape 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 450 mm high, with the bottom no more than 1,100 mm above the floor, unless there is a protected route to the stairs.

Tying into the house

The new floor and walls must line up with the existing first floor, often through a new opening in the rear wall above the old one. Floor levels, the position of upstairs windows and the existing roof all affect where the opening can go, so we survey both floors carefully.

How we'd run your project

Start at your house
We come to your home in Dalkeith, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Dalkeith.
Technical design
We prepare the building warrant drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.
Finish and certify
Second fix, plastering and making good, then the council's final building standards inspection and the completion paperwork.

Questions about first-floor extensions in Dalkeith

How long does a first-floor 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 a first-floor extension in Dalkeith?

Dalkeith 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.

Who handles building standards for a project in Dalkeith?

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.

Can I build on top of my existing single-storey extension?

Often yes, but only after the structure has been checked. Foundations, walls and lintels built for one storey may not carry two. We dig trial holes, look for the original a building warrant and ask the structural engineer to confirm what can stay, what needs strengthening and what must be rebuilt.

What happens to the room below while the first floor is built?

The old roof is removed, so the room below is exposed for a short period. We fit temporary weather protection, plan the work so the roof comes off only when the new structure is ready, and agree with you which rooms will be out of use and for roughly how long.

Nearby

Close to Dalkeith? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Dalkeith

All two-storey extension services in Dalkeith · First-floor extensions across Edinburgh and the Lothians

Tell us about your house in Dalkeith and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.