Gretna · Dumfries and Galloway

Part single, part two-storey extensions in Gretna

A part single, part two-storey extension is one of the most space-efficient ways to add bedrooms and living space to a house in Gretna, because the new floors share one set of foundations and one roof.

What we'd confirm first for a project in Gretna.

Postcode districts
DG16
County / area
Dumfries and Galloway, 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
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 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.

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

For budgeting in Gretna, allow around £67,500–£93,000 for 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). That's based on £1,880–£2,580 per m² including VAT for Scotland. Design fees, structural calculations and approval fees are separate and listed on our prices page.

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 Gretna

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 Gretna 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

  1. Measure and listen

    A visit to Gretna to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.

  2. Choose the approval route

    Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Scotland before drawing in detail.

  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 Gretna

Do I need planning permission for a part single, part two-storey extension 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 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.

Who handles building standards for a project in Gretna?

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.

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 Gretna? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Gretna

All two-storey extension services in Gretna · Part single, part two-storey extensions 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.

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