Part single, part two-storey extensions in Edinburgh

Useful details for planning a part single, part two-storey extension in Edinburgh.

Postcode districts: EH1, EH2, EH3, EH4, EH5, EH6 and nearby districts
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: Colinton (3.9 miles), Loanhead (5.2 miles), Musselburgh (5.7 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 postcode districts EH1, EH2, EH3, EH4, EH5, EH6 and nearby districts in and around Edinburgh, along with neighbouring Colinton, Loanhead and Musselburgh.

What it costs in Edinburgh

Using our Scotland rates, a part single, part two-storey extension with a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total) comes to about £67,500–£93,000, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². 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 Edinburgh

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 Edinburgh 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.

Where to put the two-storey part

The two-storey section usually works best away from the closest neighbour, with the single-storey part on that boundary side. We test a few positions against neighbours' windows, the upstairs layout and the roof shape before choosing the one to take forward.

How we'd run your project

Start at your house
We come to your home in Edinburgh, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Edinburgh.
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.
Build
Foundations, walls, floor, roof, windows, then first and second fix. We break through into the house as late as we can.

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

Who handles building standards for a project in Edinburgh?

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.

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 postcodes do you cover around Edinburgh?

We cover Edinburgh (EH1, EH2, EH3, EH4, EH5, EH6 and nearby districts) and nearby places including Colinton, Loanhead and Musselburgh, plus the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. The first site visit is free.

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.

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.

Nearby

Close to Edinburgh? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Edinburgh

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

Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.