Covering Haddington
Haddington sits 29 miles east of Livingston, with Musselburgh 10 miles to the west and Dalkeith 12 miles to the west.
Homes in the Lothians
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 is a basement conversion?
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.
- Damp and structural survey
- Waterproofing design and installation
- Underpinning or lowering the floor where needed
How much should I budget for a basement conversion?
What basement and cellar conversions typically cost. These are guide ranges; the written quote for your house replaces them.
| 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 Haddington?
Scottish projects follow a different process from England: the council issues a building warrant before work starts and accepts a completion certificate at the end, alongside any planning permission needed. We prepare both applications.
In Scotland new basements and external lightwells normally need planning permission; all basement work needs a building warrant first.
What can change the price or programme?
- A pump for the drainage system needs a battery back-up.
- Headroom of about 2.1 m or more is needed, which may mean lowering the floor.
From first call to completion
- Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
- Free site visit. We measure up, look at access, drains and the structure, and talk through options and budget.
- Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
- Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.
Your questions answered
Does a cellar conversion need planning permission?
Usually not if nothing changes outside. New basements and lightwells often do.
How do you keep a basement dry?
With a designed waterproofing system, usually a cavity drain membrane draining to a pump, sometimes combined with tanking.
Do you work in Haddington?
Yes. Haddington is within our coverage for basement and cellar conversions, along with nearby Musselburgh and Dalkeith.
Other towns nearby
- Basement and cellar conversions in Musselburgh
- Basement and cellar conversions in Dalkeith
- Basement and cellar conversions in Bonnyrigg
- Basement and cellar conversions in Kirkcaldy
Learn more about basement and cellar conversions, or see every project we cover in Haddington.

