Side return extensions · The Highlands

Side return extensions in the Highlands

Our side return extensions service covers the Highlands, from the larger towns to the villages around them, with design and build under one roof.

Covering The Highlands

Our coverage across the Highlands includes Inverness, Fort William, Nairn and Thurso.

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

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 included in a side return extension in the Highlands?

A side return extension builds over the narrow passage that runs beside the back of many Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses, widening the kitchen or dining room by a metre or two. It is usually combined with a glazed or part-glazed roof so the deeper room still gets daylight.

  • Building warrant application and completion certificate
  • Glazed or solid roof with rooflights
  • Drainage and new gully positions

How much does a side return extension cost in the Highlands?

Use these ranges to budget for side return extensions; the survey turns them into a fixed price for the agreed specification.

Side return extensionsGuide price incl. VAT
Standard specification£3,350 to £3,700 per m²
Good specification£3,700 to £4,150 per m²
High specification£4,150 to £4,550 per m²

What approvals does a side return extension need in Scotland?

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.

Scotland has its own householder permitted development rules, and small single-storey rear extensions are often covered.

What can change the price or programme?

  • Glazed roofs need careful detailing against the neighbour’s wall.
  • Many terraces sit in conservation areas, where side extensions need planning permission.

From first call to completion

  1. Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
  2. Free site visit. We measure up, look at access, drains and the structure, and talk through options and budget.
  3. Design and fixed price. You get drawings and a written price for the agreed specification before anything is ordered.
  4. Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.

What people ask before starting

Is a glazed roof too hot in summer?

Modern solar-control glass and a mix of glazed and solid roof keep it comfortable. We advise on the balance during design.

How long does a side return take?

About 10 to 14 weeks on site.

Can you visit a house in the Highlands to quote?

Yes. After a short call we arrange a site visit to measure up and agree what the design needs to do, then send a written price.

Side return extensions in nearby towns

Learn more about side return extensions, or see every project we cover in The Highlands.

Planning an extension, loft or new home?

Get a guide price in two minutes, then book a free site visit.

CallGet a quote