Part single, part two-storey extensions in Inverness

Quick reference for homeowners in Inverness.

Postcode districts: IV1, IV2, IV3, IV5 and IV8
County / area: The Highlands, Moray and Islands, 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: Westhill (Highlands, Moray and Islands) (2.8 miles), Culloden (3.1 miles), Dingwall (11 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 Inverness (IV1, IV2, IV3, IV5 and IV8) and the places around it, including Westhill (Highlands, Moray and Islands) (2.8 miles), Culloden (3.1 miles) and Dingwall.

What it costs in Inverness

Our guide for Scotland is £1,880–£2,580 per m² including VAT. On a project with a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total), that puts a part single, part two-storey extension in Inverness at roughly £67,500–£93,000. 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 Inverness

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 Inverness 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

Measure and listen
A visit to Inverness to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Inverness.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and a building warrant, all before anyone starts on site.
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 Inverness

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

Inverness 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Inverness?

We cover Inverness (IV1, IV2, IV3, IV5 and IV8) and nearby places including Westhill (Highlands, Moray and Islands), Culloden and Dingwall, plus the rest of the Highlands, Moray and Islands. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building standards for a project in Inverness?

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

We also cover places near Inverness, including:

Other extensions in Inverness

All two-storey extension services in Inverness · Part single, part two-storey extensions across the Highlands, Moray and Islands

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