Selkirk · Scottish Borders

Two-storey side extensions in Selkirk

Homes in Selkirk with a bit of space to the side or rear can often take a two-storey side extension. We'll tell you honestly whether yours can, and what approvals it needs.

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

Postcode districts
TD7
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
Galashiels (4.8 miles), Hawick (8.9 miles), Innerleithen (10.1 miles)
Distance to Hawick
about 8.9 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.

We cover postcode district TD7 in and around Selkirk, along with neighbouring Galashiels, Hawick and Innerleithen.

What it costs in Selkirk

Most of the cost of a two-storey side extension is set by its size and specification. For Selkirk 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). Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.

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 Selkirk

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 Selkirk 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. Look at the house

    We start in Selkirk with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.

  2. Get it approved

    Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Selkirk and deal with any questions from the planning officer.

  3. Detail and price

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

  4. 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 Selkirk

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

Our guide for Scotland, which covers Selkirk, 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.

Who handles building standards for a project in Selkirk?

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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Selkirk?

We cover Selkirk (TD7) and nearby places including Galashiels, Hawick and Innerleithen, plus the rest of the Scottish Borders. 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

Other towns near Selkirk:

Other extensions in Selkirk

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

The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Selkirk and give you an honest view of the options.

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