Mayfield · Edinburgh and the Lothians

Two-storey side extensions in Mayfield

Want to stay in Mayfield but need more space? A two-storey side extension adds floor area on two levels without giving up much garden. Here's what's involved.

The basics for Mayfield at a glance.

Postcode districts
EH37
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
Gorebridge (1.8 miles), Dalkeith (1.9 miles), Bonnyrigg (2.6 miles)
Distance to Edinburgh
about 8.3 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.

Around Mayfield we also work in Gorebridge, Dalkeith and Bonnyrigg, and across the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. Postcode district in and near Mayfield: EH37.

What it costs in Mayfield

Most of the cost of a two-storey side extension is set by its size and specification. For Mayfield 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). Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

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 Mayfield

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 Mayfield homes

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.

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. Free site visit

    We visit your home in Mayfield, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.

  2. Drawings, then consent

    We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Scotland, and take it through the right consent with the council.

  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. On site

    One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

Questions about two-storey side extensions in Mayfield

Which postcodes do you cover around Mayfield?

We cover Mayfield (EH37) and nearby places including Gorebridge, Dalkeith and Bonnyrigg, plus the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. The first site visit is free.

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

Our guide for Scotland, which covers Mayfield, 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.

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 Mayfield?

Mayfield 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.

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

Nearby towns we cover for two-storey side extensions:

Other extensions in Mayfield

All two-storey extension services in Mayfield · Two-storey side extensions across Edinburgh and the Lothians

Book a free site visit in Mayfield and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.

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