Livingston · Edinburgh and the Lothians

Part single, part two-storey extensions in Livingston

Homes in Livingston with a bit of space to the side or rear can often take a part single, part two-storey extension. We'll tell you honestly whether yours can, and what approvals it needs.

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

Postcode districts
EH53, EH54 and EH55
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
Broxburn (2.9 miles), Bathgate (4.7 miles), Linlithgow (6 miles)
Distance to Edinburgh
about 13.1 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 EH53, EH54 and EH55 in and around Livingston, along with neighbouring Broxburn, Bathgate and Linlithgow.

What it costs in Livingston

In Scotland, which includes Livingston, we'd expect a part single, part two-storey extension to cost 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), or £1,880–£2,580 per m² including VAT. Kitchens, bathroom fittings and flooring are priced separately so you can compare like with like.

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 Livingston

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 Livingston homes

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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Free site visit

    We visit your home in Livingston, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.

  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. Detail and price

    Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building warrant approval, then a written fixed price for the build.

  4. Build and hand over

    We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.

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

Who handles building standards for a project in Livingston?

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.

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

Livingston 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 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 Livingston, including:

Other extensions in Livingston

All two-storey extension services in Livingston · 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.

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