Two-storey rear extensions in Forres

The basics for Forres at a glance.

Postcode districts: IV36
County / area: The Highlands, Moray and Islands, 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: Nairn (9.8 miles), Elgin (11.5 miles), Lossiemouth (14.7 miles)
Distance to Inverness: about 24.1 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a two-storey rear extension

A two-storey rear extension is a new two-floor addition built onto the back of your house, usually giving a larger kitchen or living space on the ground floor and one or two bedrooms or a bathroom above. Because both floors share one set of foundations and one roof, it adds a lot of floor space for the garden it uses. In some cases it can be built under permitted development, depending on where you live.

Forres sits about 24.1 miles from Inverness. Closer to home, Nairn is 9.8 miles away and Elgin 11.5 miles.

What it costs in Forres

Using our Scotland rates, a two-storey rear extension with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) comes to about £52,500–£71,000, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². We'll give you a written design-stage price first, then a fixed build price once the drawings are agreed.

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 Forres

In Scotland, a two-storey rear extension is only permitted development under Class 1B if no part of it is within 10 m of any boundary, it is no higher than the house and the house is not in a conservation area. Most gardens cannot meet the 10 m test, so expect a householder application (£371, decided within two months) and a building warrant before 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 Forres homes

Foundations and drains

Foundations for two storeys carry more load than a single storey and may need to go deeper near trees or on clay. Rear extensions often sit near drains, so we check sewer records early, as building over or near a public sewer may need the water company's agreement.

Depth and neighbours' light

Councils check that a two-storey rear extension does not take too much light or outlook from neighbouring windows, and many use a 45-degree line drawn from the nearest habitable window. We test this at sketch stage, so the depth you are shown is one that can realistically be approved.

How we'd run your project

Look at the house
We start in Forres with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Scotland, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Technical design
We prepare the building warrant drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.
Build it
The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Questions about two-storey rear extensions in Forres

Which postcodes do you cover around Forres?

We cover Forres (IV36) and nearby places including Nairn, Elgin and Lossiemouth, plus the rest of the Highlands, Moray and Islands. The first site visit is free.

How much does a two-storey rear extension cost in Forres?

Our guide for Scotland, which covers Forres, is £1,880–£2,540 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) comes to about £52,500–£71,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Who handles building standards for a project in Forres?

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 rear extension in Forres?

Forres 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 two-storey rear extension block my neighbour's light?

It can if it is too deep or too close to the boundary, which is why councils look closely at its effect on neighbouring windows and gardens. We test the design against light and outlook early, keep the first floor shorter or set in where needed, and use a hipped roof to reduce bulk on the boundary side.

Nearby

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in Forres

All two-storey extension services in Forres · Two-storey rear extensions across the Highlands, Moray and Islands

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