Basement and cellar conversions in Ayrshire

Covering Ayrshire

We cover Ayrshire, including Kilmarnock, Ayr, Irvine and Kilwinning, and the towns around them.

Homes in Ayrshire

Scottish homes range from city tenements and sandstone terraces to bungalows and modern estates, and the building warrant process shapes the programme for every project.

What does a basement conversion involve?

A basement conversion turns an existing cellar into dry, usable rooms, or excavates a new basement under a house. Converting an existing cellar is far simpler and cheaper than digging a new one, and often does not need planning permission.

Waterproofing design and installation
Underpinning or lowering the floor where needed
Ventilation, heating and electrics

What will a basement conversion cost?

Guide prices for basement and cellar conversions, including VAT where it applies. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing after the survey.

Basement and cellar conversions	Guide price incl. VAT
Existing cellar conversion	£1,900 to £3,000 per m²
New basement excavation	£4,200 to £6,600 per m²

Do you need permission for a basement conversion in Ayrshire?

Projects in Scotland need a building warrant from the council before any building work starts, and a completion certificate once it is finished. Planning permission is a separate decision. The Party Wall etc. Act does not apply in Scotland; shared walls are governed by title deeds and the law of the tenement where relevant.

In Scotland new basements and external lightwells normally need planning permission; all basement work needs a building warrant first.

What should I think about before starting?

Groundwater levels drive the waterproofing design and cost.
A pump for the drainage system needs a battery back-up.

How does the project run?

Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
Design and fixed price. You get drawings and a written price for the agreed specification before anything is ordered.
Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.

What people ask before starting

How much does a basement conversion cost?

Converting an existing cellar costs about £1,900 to £3,000 per square metre including VAT. A new excavated basement is around £4,200 to £6,600 per square metre.

How long does it take?

About 6 to 12 weeks for a cellar conversion and 16 to 30 weeks for a new basement.

Do you work in Ayrshire?

Yes. Ayrshire is within our coverage for basement and cellar conversions, along with nearby Kilmarnock and Ayr.

Other towns nearby

Learn more about basement and cellar conversions, or see every project we cover in Ayrshire.