First-floor extensions in Innerleithen
Thinking about a first-floor extension in Innerleithen? We design it, take it through the approvals it needs and build it, with one team responsible from the first visit to the final certificate.
The basics for Innerleithen at a glance.
- Postcode districts
- EH43 and EH44
- County / area
- The Scottish Borders, 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
- Peebles (5.4 miles), Galashiels (10 miles), Selkirk (10.1 miles)
- Distance to Hawick
- about 17.4 miles
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
About a first-floor extension
A first-floor extension suits you if your house already has a single-storey extension and you need more space upstairs. You get a structural check of the existing walls and foundations, a design that ties the new floor into the house, the approvals your nation needs, a building warrant and the build, managed by us and carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.
We cover postcode districts EH43 and EH44 in and around Innerleithen, along with neighbouring Peebles, Galashiels and Selkirk.
What it costs in Innerleithen
A guide price for Innerleithen: around £23,500–£34,000 for 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). That works out at £1,690–£2,440 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.
| 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 Innerleithen
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 Innerleithen 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.
Can the existing structure take it?
Many single-storey extensions were built with foundations, walls and lintels sized for one storey. We find out what is there with trial holes and, where available, the original building standards drawings. The engineer then decides whether to reuse, strengthen or rebuild parts of the structure.
How we'd run your project
Look at the house
We start in Innerleithen with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
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.
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.
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 Innerleithen
How much does a first-floor extension cost in Innerleithen?
Our guide for Scotland, which covers Innerleithen, is £1,690–£2,440 per m² including VAT. A typical project with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²) comes to about £23,500–£34,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.
Do I need planning permission for a first-floor extension in Innerleithen?
Innerleithen 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.
Which postcodes do you cover around Innerleithen?
We cover Innerleithen (EH43 and EH44) and nearby places including Peebles, Galashiels and Selkirk, plus the rest of the Scottish Borders. The first site visit is free.
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
The same service in neighbouring towns:
Other extensions in Innerleithen
- Rear
- Side
- Wraparound
- Part two-storey
- Over a garage
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Innerleithen · First-floor extensions across the Scottish Borders
The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Innerleithen and give you an honest view of the options.