Covering Inverness
Alongside Inverness, we also cover Dingwall (11 miles to the north-west), Nairn and Forres.
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 do you get with a side return extension?
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.
- Structural steel to remove the side wall
- Drainage and new gully positions
- Plastering and making good to the old house
What will a side return extension cost?
Guide prices for side return extensions, including VAT where it applies. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing after the survey.
| Side return extensions | Guide 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 |
Do you need permission for a side return extension in Inverness?
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 should Inverness homeowners check first?
- Access is often through the house, so we plan deliveries and protect floors.
- Many terraces sit in conservation areas, where side extensions need planning permission.
From first call to completion
- Tell us about the project. Call, use the guide price tool or send the form with a few photos and a postcode.
- 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.
- Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.
Your questions answered
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.
How do I get a price for side return extensions in Inverness?
Use the guide price tool for a ballpark figure, then book a visit for a fixed written price for the agreed specification.
Side return extensions near Inverness
- Side return extensions in Dingwall
- Side return extensions in Nairn
- Side return extensions in Forres
- Side return extensions in Aviemore
Learn more about side return extensions, or see every project we cover in Inverness.

