Loanhead · Edinburgh and the Lothians

Part single, part two-storey extensions in Loanhead

Homes in Loanhead 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.

Before you start in Loanhead, here's what applies.

Postcode districts
EH17, EH20 and EH25
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
Bonnyrigg (2.1 miles), Dalkeith (3.6 miles), Penicuik (4.2 miles)
Distance to Edinburgh
about 5.2 miles
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a part single, part two-storey extension

A part single, part two-storey extension is an extension where the ground floor is wider or deeper than the floor above, so only part of it rises to two storeys. It usually gives a large kitchen or living area with roof lights below and one bedroom or bathroom above. It is often a good way to add space while limiting the effect on neighbours.

Around Loanhead we also work in Bonnyrigg, Dalkeith and Penicuik, and across the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. Postcode districts in and near Loanhead: EH17, EH20 and EH25.

What it costs in Loanhead

Expect a part single, part two-storey extension in Loanhead to land somewhere 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). Our Scotland guide rate is £1,880–£2,580 per m², including VAT. The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.

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 Loanhead

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 Loanhead homes

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.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Look at the house

    We start in Loanhead with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.

  2. Drawings, then consent

    We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Scotland, and take it through the right consent with the council.

  3. Structure and building standards

    A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get a building warrant before work starts.

  4. Finish and certify

    Second fix, plastering and making good, then the council's final building standards inspection and the completion paperwork.

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

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.

How much does a part single, part two-storey extension cost in Loanhead?

Our guide for Scotland, which covers Loanhead, is £1,880–£2,580 per m² including VAT. A typical project 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. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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

Loanhead 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 Loanhead, including:

Other extensions in Loanhead

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

Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Loanhead.

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