Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Ellon

Useful details for planning a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house in Ellon.

Postcode districts: AB41
County / area: Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Price region: Scotland
Guide price: £52,500–£71,000 (£1,880–£2,540 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: Dyce (11.6 miles), Inverurie (12.6 miles), Peterhead (14.5 miles)
Distance to Aberdeen: about 15.3 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house

This service suits you if you own a semi-detached house and want to add bedrooms and living space without moving. On a semi, the main questions are which side to build on and how to treat the attached neighbour. You get a survey, design options, the approvals your nation needs and the build, carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

We cover postcode district AB41 in and around Ellon, along with neighbouring Dyce, Inverurie and Peterhead.

What it costs in Ellon

In Scotland, which includes Ellon, we'd expect a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house to cost around £52,500–£71,000 for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space), or £1,880–£2,540 per m² including VAT. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.

Spec	Per m²	A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space)
Essential	£1,730–£2,330 per m²	£48,500–£65,500
Standard	£1,880–£2,540 per m²	£52,500–£71,000
Premium	£2,260–£3,050 per m²	£63,000–£85,500

Planning and building standards in Ellon

In Scotland, Class 1B permitted development needs a two-storey extension to be at least 10 m from every boundary, which a semi-detached house cannot meet on the attached side. In practice a two-storey extension to a semi needs a householder application, which costs £371 and is decided within two months, followed by a building warrant.

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 Ellon homes

The attached neighbour's light

A two-storey rear extension next to the party wall can take light from the neighbour's rear windows. Councils often use a 45-degree test, so the first floor may need to be shorter than the ground floor or set in from the shared boundary.

Keeping the pair balanced

Semis are designed as matching pairs, and a side extension changes that balance. Setting the side extension back from the front wall and keeping its ridge lower helps the pair still read as a pair, which councils' design guides commonly ask for.

How we'd run your project

Visit and first ideas
One of our team visits your house in Ellon, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Scotland, and take it through the right consent with the council.
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.
Build and hand over
We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.

Questions about two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Ellon

How long does a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house 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 Ellon?

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.

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house in Ellon?

Ellon 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.

Will a side extension make my semi look like a terrace?

It can if it fills the whole gap to the boundary at first floor and the neighbour does the same. Many councils ask for a first-floor gap to the side boundary or a set-back for this reason. We design the extension to keep the semi reading as one of a pair.

Does a two-storey extension add value to a semi-detached house?

It usually adds value, but the gain is never certain. Nationwide's 2025 research found that 10% more floor area was linked to about 5% higher value, and that adding a double bedroom and bathroom to a three-bed, one-bathroom house could add up to 24%. Every street has a ceiling price, so check local sales first.

Nearby

Close to Ellon? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Ellon

All two-storey extension services in Ellon · Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Ellon and give you an honest view of the options.