Two-storey rear extensions in Gourock
Homes in Gourock with a bit of space to the side or rear can often take a two-storey rear extension. We'll tell you honestly whether yours can, and what approvals it needs.
The basics for Gourock at a glance.
- Postcode districts
- PA19
- County / area
- Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, 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
- Greenock (2.4 miles), Dunoon (4.3 miles), Helensburgh (4.7 miles)
- Distance to Paisley
- about 17.4 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.
Gourock sits about 17.4 miles from Paisley. Closer to home, Greenock is 2.4 miles away and Dunoon 4.3 miles.
What it costs in Gourock
Most of the cost of a two-storey rear extension is set by its size and specification. For Gourock and the rest of Scotland, our guide is £1,880–£2,540 per m² including VAT, so about £52,500–£71,000 for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.
| 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 Gourock
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 Gourock homes
Opening up the ground floor
Knocking through the old rear wall means steel beams to carry the first floor and roof above. The structural engineer sets the beam sizes, padstones and any posts, and we plan them early so the open-plan layout you want is the one that gets built.
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
Measure and listen
A visit to Gourock to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Design and approvals
We draw the extension and check it against the rules for Scotland, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.
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 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 Gourock
Who handles building standards for a project in Gourock?
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.
Which postcodes do you cover around Gourock?
We cover Gourock (PA19) and nearby places including Greenock, Dunoon and Helensburgh, plus the rest of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde. The first site visit is free.
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey rear extension in Gourock?
Gourock 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.
How much does a two-storey rear extension cost in Gourock?
Our guide for Scotland, which covers Gourock, 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.
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
We also cover places near Gourock, including:
Other extensions in Gourock
- Side
- Wraparound
- Part two-storey
- Over a garage
- First floor
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Gourock · Two-storey rear extensions across Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
Tell us about your house in Gourock and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.