Two-storey wraparound extensions in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire at a glance

Nation: Scotland
Price region: Scotland
Postcode areas: AB, DD
Towns covered: 13 listed below, plus surrounding villages
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.
Site visits: Free, no obligation

What a two-storey wraparound extension involves

A two-storey wraparound extension is an L-shaped addition that extends both the side and the rear of your house, on two floors. It gives one of the largest gains in floor space of any extension, typically a big open-plan kitchen and living area below and two or more bedrooms or bathrooms above.

The main places we list in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are Aberdeen (AB10), Peterhead (AB42), Nigg (AB12), Inverurie (AB51), Fraserburgh (AB43) and Westhill (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire) (AB13). We cover the villages in between too.

Guide price in Scotland

Expect a two-storey wraparound extension in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to land somewhere around £113,000–£155,500 for an L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space). Our Scotland guide rate is £2,020–£2,770 per m², including VAT. Design fees, structural calculations and approval fees are separate and listed on our prices page.

Spec	Per m²	Typical project
Essential	£1,860–£2,550 per m²	£104,000–£143,000
Standard	£2,020–£2,770 per m²	£113,000–£155,500
Premium	£2,430–£3,330 per m²	£136,000–£186,500

Rules in Scotland

In Scotland, a two-storey wraparound would need to be at least 10 m from every boundary to be permitted development under Class 1B, and not on an elevation fronting a road. That is rarely possible, so plan for a householder planning application, which costs £371 and is decided within two months, followed by a building warrant 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.

There is no Party Wall Act in Scotland. Shared walls and boundaries are governed by title deeds and common law, so we speak to neighbours early and record the condition of shared structures.

Getting the design right

Phasing the build

A wraparound touches two sides of the house at once, so the kitchen and often the rear rooms are out of use for part of the build. We plan the sequence so you keep a working kitchen and bathroom for as long as possible, or advise when moving out briefly makes sense.

The corner post

At the outside corner of the L, there is no existing wall to carry the floor above. Opening the ground floor fully usually means a steel frame or a corner post, and the engineer's design sets how slim it can be. We decide early whether you want a clear corner or a visible post.

How we work in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

Measure and listen
A visit to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Drawings and permission
Our designers produce plans and elevations, then we take care of planning or permitted development checks with the council covering Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and a building warrant, all before anyone starts on site.
On site
One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

Towns we cover in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

Two-storey wraparound extensions in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire: questions

How much does a two-storey wraparound extension cost in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?

In Scotland our guide is £2,020–£2,770 per m² including VAT, so about £113,000–£155,500 for an L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space). Essential and Premium specs move that by roughly 8% down or 20% up.

How much floor space does a wraparound extension add?

It depends on the width of the side plot and the depth at the rear. Our guide prices are based on a typical wraparound with an L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space). Yours may be larger or smaller, and the measured survey shows what your plot can take.

Does a wraparound extension need steel?

Almost always. Opening the corner of the house and the old rear wall to make one open-plan space means steel beams, and often a steel post or frame at the outside corner. The structural engineer sizes these, and the steel is ordered once the design is fixed, which is one reason a wraparound needs careful sequencing.

Can I stay at home during a wraparound extension?

Many people do, but a wraparound affects two sides of the house and usually the kitchen, so there will be weeks without a full kitchen. We plan a temporary kitchen, keep a route through the house and seal off the work area. For some families, moving out while the rear wall is opened up is easier.

Will I need planning permission in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?

Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire 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.

Neighbouring areas

All extension services in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire · About two-storey wraparound extensions