Basement and cellar conversions in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

Covering Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

We cover Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, including Paisley, Greenock, Newton Mearns and Renfrew.

Homes in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

In Scotland many families extend bungalows and semis, while tenement flats bring shared ownership of roofs and walls that needs agreeing early.

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.

Damp and structural survey
Waterproofing design and installation
Finished floors, walls and ceilings

What is the guide price for a basement conversion in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde?

Typical ranges for basement and cellar conversions. Ground conditions, access and specification move the final figure, which we fix in writing before work starts.

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

Planning and building rules in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

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 Renfrewshire and Inverclyde homeowners check first?

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.

What are the steps?

Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
Survey at your house. We look at the existing structure, services and access, and agree what the design needs to achieve.
Design and fixed price. You get drawings and a written price for the agreed specification before anything is ordered.
Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.

Questions about a basement conversion in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

Does a cellar conversion need planning permission?

Usually not if nothing changes outside. New basements and lightwells often do.

How long does it take?

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

Who deals with the council for a project in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde?

We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.

Basement and cellar conversions near Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

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