Dunbar · Edinburgh and the Lothians

Part single, part two-storey extensions in Dunbar

Want to stay in Dunbar but need more space? A part single, part two-storey extension adds floor area on two levels without giving up much garden. Here's what's involved.

Quick reference for homeowners in Dunbar.

Postcode districts
EH42
County / area
Edinburgh and the Lothians, 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
North Berwick (9 miles), Haddington (10.8 miles), Tranent (17.4 miles)
Distance to Edinburgh
about 26.6 miles
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a part single, part two-storey extension

A part single, part two-storey extension suits you if you want a generous ground floor but only need one extra room upstairs, or if a full two-storey design would affect a neighbour too much. You get design options that test where the two-storey part works best, the approvals your nation needs, structural design, a building warrant and the build, carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

We cover Dunbar (EH42) and the places around it, including North Berwick (9.0 miles), Haddington (10.8 miles) and Tranent.

What it costs in Dunbar

Most of the cost of a part single, part two-storey extension is set by its size and specification. For Dunbar and the rest of Scotland, our guide is £1,880–£2,580 per m² including VAT, so about £67,500–£93,000 for a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total). These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.

SpecPer m²A 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 Dunbar

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 Dunbar 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

  1. Understand the brief

    At your home in Dunbar we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Build and sign-off

    Vetted teams working under S&K build the extension, and we arrange the completion certificate at the end.

Questions about part single, part two-storey extensions in Dunbar

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

Dunbar 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 Dunbar?

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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Dunbar?

We cover Dunbar (EH42) and nearby places including North Berwick, Haddington and Tranent, plus the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. The first site visit is free.

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

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in Dunbar

All two-storey extension services in Dunbar · Part single, part two-storey extensions across Edinburgh and the Lothians

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

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