Part single, part two-storey extensions in Cowdenbeath

Before you start in Cowdenbeath, here's what applies.

Postcode districts: KY4
County / area: Fife, Scotland
Price region: Scotland
Guide price: £67,500–£93,000 (£1,880–£2,580 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: Lochgelly (1.7 miles), Kelty (2.2 miles), Ballingry (3.6 miles)
Distance to Dunfermline: about 5.2 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a part single, part two-storey extension

A part single, part two-storey extension is an extension where the ground floor is wider or deeper than the floor above, so only part of it rises to two storeys. It usually gives a large kitchen or living area with roof lights below and one bedroom or bathroom above. It is often a good way to add space while limiting the effect on neighbours.

Cowdenbeath sits about 5.2 miles from Dunfermline. Closer to home, Lochgelly is 1.7 miles away and Kelty 2.2 miles.

What it costs in Cowdenbeath

A guide price for Cowdenbeath: around £67,500–£93,000 for a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total). That works out at £1,880–£2,580 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.

Spec	Per m²	A 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total)
Essential	£1,730–£2,380 per m²	£62,500–£85,500
Standard	£1,880–£2,580 per m²	£67,500–£93,000
Premium	£2,260–£3,100 per m²	£81,000–£111,500

Planning and building standards in Cowdenbeath

In Scotland, because part of the extension is more than one storey, it is assessed under Class 1B, which needs at least 10 m to every boundary for permitted development. On most plots that is not possible, so the extension needs a householder application (£371, decided within two months). A building warrant is also needed before any 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 Cowdenbeath homes

Structure at the step

The first-floor wall above often sits over the new open-plan space, so it needs a steel beam or frame to carry it. Loads come down at different points than in a full two-storey design, and the engineer sizes the foundations to suit each part.

The roof junction

Where the single-storey roof meets the two-storey wall you need a sound weathering detail, usually a lead or similar flashing, and enough height for roof lights or a lantern. We set the roof falls and the upstairs window sill heights together so they do not clash.

How we'd run your project

Understand the brief
At your home in Cowdenbeath we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Scotland, and take it through the right consent with the council.
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 part single, part two-storey extensions in Cowdenbeath

Which postcodes do you cover around Cowdenbeath?

We cover Cowdenbeath (KY4) and nearby places including Lochgelly, Kelty and Ballingry, plus the rest of Fife. The first site visit is free.

Do I need planning permission for a part single, part two-storey extension in Cowdenbeath?

Cowdenbeath 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 part single, part two-storey 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.

Which side should the two-storey part go on?

Usually the side furthest from the nearest neighbour's windows, so the single-storey part sits nearest them and keeps their light. Other factors are where the stairs land upstairs, which room needs the extra space and where drains run. We sketch options at the design stage and explain which is most likely to be approved.

Can the single-storey part be deeper than the two-storey part?

With planning permission, yes, and that is often the point of the design: the ground floor projects further into the garden while the first floor stays back from neighbours. Under permitted development, the depth limits for extensions of more than one storey can apply to the whole extension, so we confirm which route applies before drawings are finalised.

Nearby

We also cover places near Cowdenbeath, including:

Other extensions in Cowdenbeath

All two-storey extension services in Cowdenbeath · Part single, part two-storey extensions across Fife

Book a free site visit in Cowdenbeath and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.