Two-storey wraparound extensions in Balerno

Balerno: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts: EH27
County / area: Edinburgh and the Lothians, Scotland
Price region: Scotland
Guide price: £113,000–£155,500 (£2,020–£2,770 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: Currie (1.5 miles), Colinton (3.6 miles), Penicuik (5.7 miles)
Distance to Edinburgh: about 7.3 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a two-storey wraparound extension

A two-storey wraparound extension suits a house with space both beside it and behind it, where you want to transform the layout rather than add a single room. You get one design for the whole L-shape, the planning application, structural design for the corner and the openings into the house, a building warrant and the build, managed by us and carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

Around Balerno we also work in Currie, Colinton and Penicuik, and across the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians. Postcode district in and near Balerno: EH27.

What it costs in Balerno

Most of the cost of a two-storey wraparound extension is set by its size and specification. For Balerno and the rest of 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). Kitchens, bathroom fittings and flooring are priced separately so you can compare like with like.

Spec	Per m²	An L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space)
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

Planning and building standards in Balerno

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.

Design points for Balerno homes

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'd run your project

Start at your house
We come to your home in Balerno, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Scotland before drawing in detail.
Structure and building standards
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get a building warrant before work starts.
Finish and certify
Second fix, plastering and making good, then the council's final building standards inspection and the completion paperwork.

Questions about two-storey wraparound extensions in Balerno

Who handles building standards for a project in Balerno?

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.

How long does a two-storey wraparound 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.

How much does a two-storey wraparound extension cost in Balerno?

Our guide for Scotland, which covers Balerno, is £2,020–£2,770 per m² including VAT. A typical project with an L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space) comes to about £113,000–£155,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

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.

Is a wraparound extension better than separate side and rear extensions?

Building both at once usually costs less than two separate projects, because you pay for one set-up, one scaffold, one roof junction and one set of approvals. It also lets the layout be designed as a whole. The trade-off is a larger single outlay and a longer build, often 16 to 24 weeks at this size.

Nearby

We also cover places near Balerno, including:

Other extensions in Balerno

All two-storey extension services in Balerno · Two-storey wraparound extensions across Edinburgh and the Lothians

Tell us about your house in Balerno and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.