Two-storey side extensions in Kirkwall
Our two-storey side extensions service in Kirkwall covers everything: measured survey, design, planning or permitted development checks, structural design, building control and the build itself.
We take on projects in Kirkwall by arrangement. Site visits here aren't free as standard, and we'll agree travel costs with you in writing first.
Quick reference for homeowners in Kirkwall.
- Postcode districts
- KW15 and KW17
- County / area
- The Highlands, Moray and Islands, 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
- Thurso (33.9 miles), Wick (38 miles), Lossiemouth (88.1 miles)
- Distance to Inverness
- about 113.8 miles
- First visit
- By arrangement
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.
Kirkwall sits about 113.8 miles from Inverness. Closer to home, Thurso is 33.9 miles away and Wick 38.0 miles.
What it costs in Kirkwall
For budgeting in Kirkwall, allow around £81,000–£108,500 for a two-storey side extension with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). That's based on £1,930–£2,580 per m² including VAT for Scotland. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.
| Spec | Per m² | A 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 Kirkwall
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 Kirkwall 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.
Set-down and set-back
Councils usually want a two-storey side extension to look subordinate to the house. Setting the front wall back from the main front and dropping the ridge slightly below the main roof helps it read as an addition, and is often expected in local design guidance.
How we'd run your project
Visit by arrangement
We agree a visit to your home in Kirkwall and any travel costs with you in writing first, then look at the structure, access and boundaries.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Scotland before drawing in detail.
Technical design
We prepare the building warrant drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.
Build
Foundations, walls, floor, roof, windows, then first and second fix. We break through into the house as late as we can.
Questions about two-storey side extensions in Kirkwall
Who handles building standards for a project in Kirkwall?
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.
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.
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Kirkwall?
Kirkwall 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 Kirkwall?
We cover Kirkwall (KW15 and KW17) and nearby places including Thurso, Wick and Lossiemouth, plus the rest of the Highlands, Moray and Islands. Visits and projects in Kirkwall are by arrangement, with travel costs agreed in writing first.
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 site visit before any drawings are prepared.
Nearby
Nearby towns we cover for two-storey side extensions:
Other extensions in Kirkwall
- Rear
- 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 Kirkwall · Two-storey side 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 Kirkwall.