Edinburgh, Edinburgh and the Lothians
Single-storey rear extension in Edinburgh
Ground-floor space across the back of the house, usually for a kitchen, dining or family room. If you live in Edinburgh and want to know what a single-storey rear extension would cost and whether it needs planning, start with the online guide price or a free site visit.
Edinburgh is covered from our Edinburgh and the Lothians round, including EH5, EH7, EH8 and EH11. On sandstone tenements, villas and terraces like those around Edinburgh, a single-storey rear extension is usually the simplest way to fix a small back kitchen without touching the bedrooms.
Book a free site visit
Tell us about the house and we'll call to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.
How much does a single-storey rear extension cost in Edinburgh?
A single-storey rear extension in Edinburgh is priced at £1,800–£2,940 per square metre including VAT as a guide, before kitchen fit-out and fees. Prices in Scotland sit a little below our West Midlands baseline; building warrant fees and drawings are budgeted separately.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 3 m wide × 4 m deep (12 m²) | £21,500–£35,500 |
| 4 m wide × 5 m deep (20 m²) | £36,000–£59,000 |
| 4 m wide × 6 m deep (24 m²) | £43,500–£70,500 |
These are guide ranges; the written quote after the survey is the figure that counts.
Do you need planning permission for a single-storey rear extension in Edinburgh?
The planning route for a single-storey rear extension in Edinburgh is set by Scotland's householder rules and your council.
In Scotland a single-storey rear extension can be permitted development under Class 1A: eaves no higher than 3 metres and an overall height of 4 metres, and where any part is within 1 metre of a boundary it can project no more than 3 metres on a terraced house or 4 metres on other houses. The rights do not apply in conservation areas, and a building warrant is still needed before work starts.
Scotland has no larger-extension prior approval route; extensions beyond permitted development need a planning application.
Classes 1A and 1B do not apply in conservation areas, and listed buildings need listed building consent. We check your house's planning history and any conservation area before drawing, so the route is clear before you spend on plans.
What are homes in Edinburgh like to extend?
Edinburgh has sandstone tenements, terraced houses and villas closer in, with post-war semis and newer estates further out. Tenement and other flats need planning permission for an extension, and every project needs a building warrant before work starts.
How a single-storey rear extension in Edinburgh comes together
Free site visit
We measure the house and garden, look at the back wall, drainage and boundaries, and talk through what you want from the space.
Design and guide price
Two or three layout options with a guide price for each, so you choose the design knowing what it costs.
Approvals
Permitted development check or planning application, then building warrant drawings and structural calculations, plus a written agreement with neighbours for any shared-wall work.
Fixed price and build
A written price for the agreed design, a start date and a named contact through the build, ending with the accepted completion certificate.
Single-storey rear extensions near Edinburgh
We also build single-storey rear extensions in nearby Musselburgh (5.7 miles) and Dalkeith (6.4 miles).
- Single-storey rear extension in Musselburgh
- Single-storey rear extension in Dalkeith
- Single-storey rear extension in Bonnyrigg
- Single-storey rear extension in Mayfield
- Single-storey rear extension in Penicuik
Other work in Edinburgh:
FAQ
Single-storey rear extension questions in Edinburgh
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Edinburgh?
Many single-storey rear extensions are permitted development under Class 1A, but not in conservation areas; you always need a building warrant before work starts.
Can you match the brick or stone on my Edinburgh house?
We source the closest match and show you samples before ordering; reclaimed materials are often the best match on older houses.
Do I need a structural engineer?
Yes for the beam over the new opening and usually for the foundations. Their calculations go to building control with the drawings.
Will I need a structural engineer?
Yes for the beam over the new opening and usually the foundations; we arrange them and their calculations go to building control.
How long does a rear extension take to build in Edinburgh?
Most single-storey rear extensions take 10 to 16 weeks on site and two-storey extensions 16 to 26 weeks, after design and approvals.
Can I get a price without a visit?
Our online guide-price tool gives a range in a couple of minutes. A written price needs a survey.