Building regulations for extensions in Kirkwall
We take on the building warrant in Kirkwall by arrangement. Because of travel and logistics, we agree the programme and any travel costs in writing before the survey.
- Guide price in KirkwallFrom £850 inc VAT
- Approval routeBuilding warrant before work starts
- Timescale2–5 weeks for drawings
- Postcode districtsKW15

Design and approval fees for Kirkwall
These are guide fees for Kirkwall, adjusted for Scotland (×0.98) and including VAT. Council application and inspection fees are paid separately.
| Option | What it covers | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Building regulations drawings for a simple single-storey extension | £850 – £1,800 |
| Standard | Drawings plus structural calculations | £1,250 – £2,550 |
| Premium | Complex or two-storey pack with energy calculations | £2,150 – £3,750 |
Our design fee only. Building control charges are set by your council (or, in England and Wales, a registered building control approver) and quoted separately.Council fees are extra and are set by the Scottish Government.
Want a range for your exact size? The guide-price tool takes about a minute.
Planning rules that apply in Kirkwall
In Scotland a building warrant from the council is needed before work starts on almost any extension, and a completion certificate is issued when the work is accepted. Building standards are set in the Scottish technical handbooks.
Before any drawing is finalised we check whether the house is listed, in a conservation area or subject to an Article 4 direction.
Scotland has no Party Wall Act. Where work affects a shared wall or a neighbour's land, we agree access, protection and making good with your neighbour in writing before work starts.
Building close to a public sewer needs the agreement of Scottish Water, which we check during design.
Applications are decided by your council as planning authority.
Who this service is for
- Every extension, whatever the planning route
- Homeowners using their own builder who need the drawings
- Glass-heavy designs that need energy calculations
Building regulations approval and planning permission are separate. A design can have planning consent and still need changes to meet the regulations, which is why we draw for both together.
Working in Kirkwall
Across KW15, we can visit, measure and advise. Island and remote projects are planned individually, with travel, deliveries and accommodation for the team agreed before the survey.
Scotland's housing includes sandstone villas, terraces and tenements in the cities and plenty of post-war and modern houses and bungalows elsewhere. A building warrant is needed before work starts.
How the project works
Visits to Kirkwall are arranged around travel; we confirm any travel costs in writing before the survey.
Site visit by arrangement
A designer visits, takes measurements and photos, and discusses layouts, budget and timing with you.
Design and approvals
Once the layout is agreed, we deal with the council: planning permission or written confirmation that none is needed, plus building control.
Fixed written price
You receive a written, itemised price and programme. Nothing starts until you are happy with it.
Build and sign-off
We build it with one project manager, book the building control inspections and hand over the completion certificate.
Common questions in Kirkwall
Who do I contract with in Kirkwall?
Your contract is with S&K Property Investments and Improvement Ltd, which designs and manages the project and the build teams who carry it out.
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Kirkwall, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
Do I need building regulations approval in Kirkwall?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. In Scotland that means a building warrant before work starts.
Talk to us about a project in Kirkwall
We will talk through the project, the planning position and how we would organise the visit and the build.
- Site visit arranged around travel, costs agreed first
- Planning route checked before you spend on drawings
- Written price once the design is agreed
- Building control sign-off at the end
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6341 or .
Send us your project details
Tell us a little about the project and we will arrange a time.