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.
| 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 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
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.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Scotland before drawing in detail.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building warrant approval, then a written fixed price for the build.
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
- Rear
- Side
- Wraparound
- Over a garage
- First floor
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
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.