Covering Thurso
Thurso is about 81 miles north of Inverness. We also cover Lossiemouth (61 miles to the south), Elgin and Buckie.
Projects in the Highlands are taken on by arrangement, and any travel and accommodation costs for the team are shown openly in the quote.
Homes in the Highlands
Housing in Scotland includes tenements in the cities, sandstone villas, inter-war and post-war semis and a large number of bungalows, which often suit dormer and upward extensions.
What does a garden annexe involve?
A garden annexe is a separate single-storey building in the grounds of a house with its own bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette, used by family members as part of the main household. Unlike a garden office, an annexe that people sleep in normally needs planning permission and full building regulations approval.
- Building warrant application and completion certificate
- Foundations and drainage connections
- Brick, block or timber-frame structure
How much does a garden annexe cost in Thurso?
Typical ranges for garden annexes. Ground conditions, access and specification move the final figure, which we fix in writing before work starts.
| Garden annexes | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Standard specification | £2,400 to £2,900 per m² |
| Good specification | £2,900 to £3,400 per m² |
| High specification | £3,400 to £3,900 per m² |
How is a garden annexe approved in Thurso?
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 an annexe needs planning permission and a building warrant before work starts.
What should Thurso homeowners check first?
- The annexe normally has to remain part of the main household, not let as a separate home.
- Drainage may need a pump if the garden falls away from the sewer.
How does the project run?
- Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
- Free site visit. We measure up, look at access, drains and the structure, and talk through options and budget.
- Price and paperwork. The design is priced line by line, and we submit the planning and building control applications.
- Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.
Garden annexes: common questions
Do I need planning permission for a garden annexe?
Usually yes, because people will sleep in it. Outbuilding permitted development does not cover living accommodation.
How long does an annexe take to build?
About 14 to 24 weeks on site after approvals.
How do I get a price for garden annexes in Thurso?
Use the guide price tool for a ballpark figure, then book a visit for a fixed written price for the agreed specification.
Also covering
- Garden annexes in Lossiemouth
- Garden annexes in Elgin
- Garden annexes in Buckie
- Garden annexes in Forres
Learn more about garden annexes, or see every project we cover in Thurso.

