Galashiels · Scottish Borders

Two-storey side extensions in Galashiels

Thinking about a two-storey side extension in Galashiels? We design it, take it through the approvals it needs and build it, with one team responsible from the first visit to the final certificate.

What we'd confirm first for a project in Galashiels.

Postcode districts
TD1, TD2, TD4 and TD6
County / area
The Scottish Borders, 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
Selkirk (4.8 miles), Innerleithen (10 miles), Hawick (13.3 miles)
Distance to Hawick
about 13.3 miles
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a two-storey side extension

A two-storey side extension suits a detached or semi-detached house with a side garden, driveway or garage wide enough to build on. You get a design that sits comfortably on the street, a planning application or permitted development check depending on your nation, structural design, a building warrant and the build itself. We manage the whole process, and the work is carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

Galashiels sits about 13.3 miles from Hawick. Closer to home, Selkirk is 4.8 miles away and Innerleithen 10.0 miles.

What it costs in Galashiels

Most of the cost of a two-storey side extension is set by its size and specification. For Galashiels and the rest of Scotland, our guide is £1,930–£2,580 per m² including VAT, so about £81,000–£108,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.

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 Galashiels

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 Galashiels homes

Access and services

Side extensions often cover the only route to the back garden, a gas meter, soil pipes or a drain run. We plan bin and bike access, move meters and pipes where needed and check drains early, because these items affect both cost and layout.

Matching the ridge and roof

A hipped house usually needs a hipped extension roof, and a gabled house a gable. Matching the pitch, tiles, ridge detail and brick bond is what makes a side extension look original rather than added, and councils look closely at it on a front-facing addition.

How we'd run your project

  1. Visit and first ideas

    One of our team visits your house in Galashiels, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.

  2. Choose the approval route

    Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Scotland before drawing in detail.

  3. Detail and price

    Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building warrant approval, then a written fixed price for the build.

  4. 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 side extensions in Galashiels

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.

How much does a two-storey side extension cost in Galashiels?

Our guide for Scotland, which covers Galashiels, is £1,930–£2,580 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) comes to about £81,000–£108,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Galashiels?

Galashiels 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 Galashiels?

We cover Galashiels (TD1, TD2, TD4 and TD6) and nearby places including Selkirk, Innerleithen and Hawick, plus the rest of the Scottish Borders. The first site visit is free.

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

Other towns near Galashiels:

Other extensions in Galashiels

All two-storey extension services in Galashiels · Two-storey side extensions across the Scottish Borders

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

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