Currie · Edinburgh and the Lothians

Two-storey side extensions in Currie

For a two-storey side extension in Currie, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Useful details for planning a two-storey side extension in Currie.

Postcode districts
EH14
County / area
Edinburgh and the Lothians, Scotland
Price region
Scotland
Guide price
£81,000–£108,500 (£1,930–£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
Balerno (1.5 miles), Colinton (2.2 miles), Penicuik (5.5 miles)
Distance to Edinburgh
about 5.8 miles
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a two-storey side extension

A two-storey side extension is a new two-floor addition built into the space beside your house, often over a driveway or side passage. It typically adds one or two bedrooms upstairs and a utility, study or larger kitchen below, without giving up rear garden.

Currie sits about 5.8 miles from Edinburgh. Closer to home, Balerno is 1.5 miles away and Colinton 2.2 miles.

What it costs in Currie

Expect a two-storey side extension in Currie to land somewhere around £81,000–£108,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). Our Scotland guide rate is £1,930–£2,580 per m², including VAT. Design fees, structural calculations and approval fees are separate and listed on our prices page.

SpecPer m²A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,770–£2,380 per m²£74,500–£100,000
Standard£1,930–£2,580 per m²£81,000–£108,500
Premium£2,310–£3,100 per m²£97,000–£130,500

Planning and building standards in Currie

In Scotland, a two-storey side extension is only permitted development under Class 1B if no part is within 10 m of any boundary and it is not on an elevation fronting a road. Side extensions rarely meet this, so plan for a householder application (£371, decided within two months) and a building warrant from the council 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 Currie homes

Side windows, boundaries and gutters

Upstairs windows in the side wall face the neighbour, so they are usually obscure-glazed and fixed, or left out. Building close to the boundary also raises questions about foundations, overhanging gutters and access for maintenance, so we design the eaves and gutter to stay within your land.

Avoiding a terracing effect

Where semi-detached houses sit close together, side extensions on neighbouring houses can join up and turn a row of pairs into a terrace. Many councils ask for a gap to the boundary at first floor to stop this, so we check local guidance before fixing the width.

How we'd run your project

  1. Understand the brief

    At your home in Currie we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.

  2. Plans, then approval

    Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.

  3. Technical design

    We prepare the building warrant drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.

  4. Finish and certify

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

Questions about two-storey side extensions in Currie

Who handles building standards for a project in Currie?

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 side extension in Currie?

Currie 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 postcodes do you cover around Currie?

We cover Currie (EH14) and nearby places including Balerno, Colinton and Penicuik, plus the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. The first site visit is free.

How long does a two-storey side 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.

Can I build a two-storey side extension over my driveway?

Yes, if the drive is wide enough for a useful room and the council accepts the design. You may lose off-road parking, which some councils weigh up, and the foundations need to suit the ground below. We check parking, drains and meter positions at the free site visit before any drawings are prepared.

Nearby

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

Other extensions in Currie

All two-storey extension services in Currie · Two-storey side 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 Currie.

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