Side return extensions for homes in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Our design and build teams take on side return extensions in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, from the first measured survey through planning and building control to the finished room.
- Guide priceFrom £17,500 inc VAT
- PlanningScottish householder rules; building warrant needed
- Towns covered6
- Site visitFree, no obligation
Is a side return extension right for your house?
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces with a rear outrigger
- Homes where the garden is too small to lose much depth
- Narrow galley kitchens
Light is the design problem. A side return can make the middle of the house darker if the roof is solid, so we model the daylight and usually recommend a glazed slope or a run of rooflights along the boundary edge.
What should I budget for a side return extension in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
Labour and material costs vary across the UK, so for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire we use our Scotland factor (×0.98). The ranges include VAT and exclude design, structural and council fees.
Typical rates in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire: £2,060 to £3,720 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 m × 4.5 m 8 m² | £17,500 – £21,000 | £18,500 – £24,000 | £23,500 – £30,000 |
| 2 m × 5.5 m 11 m² | £22,500 – £27,000 | £25,500 – £32,500 | £32,000 – £41,000 |
| 2.2 m × 7 m 15 m² | £30,500 – £37,000 | £35,000 – £44,500 | £44,000 – £56,000 |
Want a range for your exact size? The guide-price tool takes about a minute.
Do I need planning permission in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
In Scotland, householder permitted development rules (Class 1A for single-storey ground-floor extensions and Class 1B for extensions of more than one storey) allow some smaller extensions without a planning application, within limits on depth, height and distance from the boundary. Conservation areas and listed buildings are more restricted.
In a conservation area or national scenic area the householder permitted development rights are more limited, listed homes need listed building consent, and if rights have been removed by a condition or direction, any extension needs an application.
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.
Applications are decided by your council as planning authority.
Local to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Towns we cover in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire include Aberdeen, Peterhead, Inverurie, Stonehaven, Ellon, Westhill. Across Scotland, extensions follow Scottish planning and building standards, including the building warrant process, which we build into the programme from the start.
Our process, step by step
Site visits are free and there is no obligation. Where drawings are needed, the design stage is priced in writing before it starts.
Free site visit
First, a site visit: we look at the house, garden, access and drains and listen to what you need.
Design and approvals
We produce the drawings and structural design, and manage the approvals so they are in place before work starts.
Fixed written price
With the design and specification agreed, you get a fixed written price and a start date.
Build and sign-off
The build is managed from start to finish, inspected at each stage and signed off on completion.
Side return extension questions answered
Will my neighbours in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire be involved?
If a planning application is needed, the council notifies neighbours. Where work is close to a shared boundary, we agree access and protection with them in writing.
Who do I contract with for a side return extension in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
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.
Do I need building regulations approval in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. In Scotland that means a building warrant before work starts.
Will the kitchen be darker?
Not if the roof is designed well. A glazed roof or a line of rooflights along the boundary usually makes the room brighter than before.
Can I combine a side return with a rear extension?
Yes. That combination is a wraparound extension, which adds the most space to a terraced house.
Book a free site visit in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
We will measure up, check the planning position and give you honest guide figures.
- Free, no-obligation site visit
- 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 .
Book a free site visit
Tell us a little about the project and we will arrange a time.