Oban · Argyll and Bute

Two-storey rear extensions in Oban

Our two-storey rear extensions service in Oban covers everything: measured survey, design, planning or permitted development checks, structural design, building control and the build itself.

We take on projects in Oban by arrangement. Site visits here aren't free as standard, and we'll agree travel costs with you in writing first.

Oban: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts
PA34, PA35 and PA37
County / area
Argyll and Bute, 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
Lochgilphead (26.1 miles), Fort William (30.9 miles), Caol (32.4 miles)
Distance to Helensburgh
about 40.2 miles
First visit
By arrangement

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.

Oban sits about 40.2 miles from Helensburgh. Closer to home, Lochgilphead is 26.1 miles away and Fort William 30.9 miles.

What it costs in Oban

Expect a two-storey rear extension in Oban to land somewhere around £52,500–£71,000 for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). Our Scotland guide rate is £1,880–£2,540 per m², including VAT. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

SpecPer m²A 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 Oban

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 Oban 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

  1. Visit by arrangement

    We agree a visit to your home in Oban and any travel costs with you in writing first, then look at the structure, access and boundaries.

  2. Drawings and permission

    Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Oban.

  3. Fixed price in writing

    With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.

  4. Build and sign-off

    Vetted teams working under S&K build the extension, and we arrange the completion certificate at the end.

Questions about two-storey rear extensions in Oban

How long does a two-storey rear 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Oban?

We cover Oban (PA34, PA35 and PA37) and nearby places including Lochgilphead, Fort William and Caol, plus the rest of Argyll and Bute. Visits and projects in Oban are by arrangement, with travel costs agreed in writing first.

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey rear extension in Oban?

Oban 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 Oban?

Our guide for Scotland, which covers Oban, 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 Oban, including:

Other extensions in Oban

All two-storey extension services in Oban · Two-storey rear extensions across Argyll and Bute

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

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