First-floor extensions in Motherwell
If you live in Motherwell and need more room without moving, a first-floor extension is worth a serious look. We handle the drawings, approvals, structure and build.
Motherwell: the key facts for this kind of project.
- Postcode districts
- ML1
- County / area
- Lanarkshire, 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
- Mossend (1.9 miles), Bellshill (2.1 miles), Hamilton (2.2 miles)
- Distance to East Kilbride
- about 7.4 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.
Around Motherwell we also work in Mossend, Bellshill and Hamilton, and across the rest of Lanarkshire. Postcode district in and near Motherwell: ML1.
What it costs in Motherwell
For budgeting in Motherwell, allow around £23,500–£34,000 for a first-floor extension with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). That's based on £1,690–£2,440 per m² including VAT for Scotland. 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 Motherwell
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 Motherwell homes
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.
Replacing the flat roof
The existing roof usually comes off and is replaced by a new first-floor structure. The room below is exposed for a short time, so we plan temporary weatherproofing and sequence the work to keep the kitchen or living room usable for as long as possible.
How we'd run your project
Look at the house
We start in Motherwell 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.
Structure and building standards
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get a building warrant before work starts.
Build and hand over
We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.
Questions about first-floor extensions in Motherwell
Do I need planning permission for a first-floor extension in Motherwell?
Motherwell 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 a first-floor extension cost in Motherwell?
Our guide for Scotland, which covers Motherwell, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Nearby
Nearby towns we cover for first-floor extensions:
Other extensions in Motherwell
- 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 Motherwell · First-floor extensions across Lanarkshire
The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Motherwell and give you an honest view of the options.