Two-storey side extensions in Wick
For a two-storey side extension in Wick, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for the Highlands, Moray and Islands.
We take on projects in Wick by arrangement. Site visits here aren't free as standard, and we'll agree travel costs with you in writing first.
The basics for Wick at a glance.
- Postcode districts
- KW1 and KW2
- 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 (18.9 miles), Lossiemouth (50.1 miles), Buckie (53 miles)
- Distance to Inverness
- about 78.2 miles
- First visit
- By arrangement
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 KW1 and KW2 in and around Wick, along with neighbouring Thurso, Lossiemouth and Buckie.
What it costs in Wick
Expect a two-storey side extension in Wick to land somewhere around £81,000–£108,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). Our Scotland guide rate is £1,930–£2,580 per m², including VAT. 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 Wick
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 Wick 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
Visit by arrangement
We agree a visit to your home in Wick and any travel costs with you in writing first, then look at the structure, access and boundaries.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Scotland, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Structure and building standards
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get a building warrant before work starts.
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 Wick
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Wick?
Wick 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.
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.
Which postcodes do you cover around Wick?
We cover Wick (KW1 and KW2) and nearby places including Thurso, Lossiemouth and Buckie, plus the rest of the Highlands, Moray and Islands. Visits and projects in Wick are by arrangement, with travel costs agreed in writing first.
How much does a two-storey side extension cost in Wick?
Our guide for Scotland, which covers Wick, 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 site visit before any drawings are prepared.
Nearby
The same service in neighbouring towns:
Other extensions in Wick
- 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 Wick · 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 Wick.