Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Gretna
Homes in Gretna with a bit of space to the side or rear can often take a kitchen extension with bedrooms above. We'll tell you honestly whether yours can, and what approvals it needs.
The basics for Gretna at a glance.
- Postcode districts
- DG16
- County / area
- Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
- Price region
- Scotland
- Guide price
- £52,500–£71,000 (£1,880–£2,540 per m²), kitchen units and worktops priced separately
- 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
- Annan (7.6 miles), Lockerbie (14.6 miles), Locharbriggs (21.9 miles)
- Distance to Dumfries
- about 22.2 miles
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
About a kitchen extension with bedrooms above
A kitchen extension with bedrooms above is a two-storey extension designed so the ground floor becomes a larger, usually open-plan kitchen and dining space, with one or two bedrooms or a bathroom on the first floor. It is a natural fit for a two-storey rear extension. The key design issues are the steel beams that open up the house, glazing and ventilation.
Gretna sits about 22.2 miles from Dumfries. Closer to home, Annan is 7.6 miles away and Lockerbie 14.6 miles.
What it costs in Gretna
Using our Scotland rates, a kitchen extension with bedrooms above with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) comes to about £52,500–£71,000 (kitchen units and worktops priced separately), including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.
| 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 Gretna
In Scotland, a two-storey kitchen extension falls under Class 1B, which needs at least 10 m to every boundary for permitted development. Most gardens are too narrow, so expect a householder application, which costs £371 and is decided within two months. A building warrant covers the structure, ventilation and energy standards.
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 Gretna homes
Bedrooms over a kitchen
Bedrooms above need an escape window or a protected route to the stairs, plus good sound insulation from the kitchen below. We position the stairs, landing and bedroom doors so the new rooms connect naturally to the existing first floor.
Steel beams and the open-plan opening
Removing the old rear wall to make one large room means a steel beam, sometimes several, to carry the first floor and roof. The engineer sizes the steel and its supports, and we decide early whether you want a flush ceiling with the beam hidden or a downstand, as this affects ceiling heights.
How we'd run your project
Understand the brief
At your home in Gretna we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Scotland before drawing in detail.
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 kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Gretna
Do I need planning permission for a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Gretna?
Gretna 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 long does a kitchen extension with bedrooms above 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.
How much does a kitchen extension with bedrooms above cost in Gretna?
Our guide for Scotland, which covers Gretna, 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 (kitchen units and worktops priced separately). Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.
Can I keep using my kitchen during the build?
For part of it. The new structure can be built while your existing kitchen stays in use, but when the rear wall is opened and the new kitchen is fitted there will be several weeks without one. We plan when this happens and help you set up a temporary kitchen elsewhere in the house.
Is it cheaper to build a kitchen extension and bedrooms at the same time?
Yes, in most cases. Building both floors at once means one set of foundations, one roof, one scaffold and one set of approvals. Adding a first floor later means removing the original roof, possibly strengthening the foundations and disrupting the kitchen again. If you think you will need the bedroom, build it now.
Nearby
We also cover places near Gretna, including:
Other extensions in Gretna
All two-storey extension services in Gretna · Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above across Dumfries and Galloway
Book a free site visit in Gretna and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.