Two-storey side extensions in Musselburgh

Before you start in Musselburgh, here's what applies.

Postcode districts: EH15 and EH21
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: Prestonpans (3 miles), Dalkeith (3.4 miles), Tranent (3.7 miles)
Distance to Edinburgh: about 5.7 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.

We cover postcode districts EH15 and EH21 in and around Musselburgh, along with neighbouring Prestonpans, Dalkeith and Tranent.

What it costs in Musselburgh

Using our Scotland rates, a two-storey side extension with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) comes to about £81,000–£108,500, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.

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 Musselburgh

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 Musselburgh homes

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.

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.

How we'd run your project

Look at the house
We start in Musselburgh with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Musselburgh and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Price it properly
Once the engineer's calculations are in, we fix the build price in writing, with a clear list of what's included.
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 Musselburgh

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 Musselburgh?

Musselburgh 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 Musselburgh?

We cover Musselburgh (EH15 and EH21) and nearby places including Prestonpans, Dalkeith and Tranent, plus the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. The first site visit is free.

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

Our guide for Scotland, which covers Musselburgh, 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.

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 Musselburgh:

Other extensions in Musselburgh

All two-storey extension services in Musselburgh · 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 Musselburgh.