Side return extensions across Dumfries and Galloway
If you live in Dumfries and Galloway and want more space without moving, a side return extension is one of the most practical ways to get it. We handle the drawings, approvals and the build.
- Guide priceFrom £17,500 inc VAT
- PlanningScottish householder rules; building warrant needed
- Towns covered3
- Site visitFree, no obligation
Who a side return extension suits
- Victorian and Edwardian terraces with a rear outrigger
- Narrow galley kitchens
- Homes where the garden is too small to lose much depth
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.
Guide prices for Dumfries and Galloway
Labour and material costs vary across the UK, so for Dumfries and Galloway we use our Scotland factor (×0.98). The ranges include VAT and exclude design, structural and council fees.
Typical rates in Dumfries and Galloway: £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 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
Do I need planning permission in Dumfries and Galloway?
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.
The planning position for a specific Dumfries and Galloway address depends on its history and any designations, which is why we check it at the first visit.
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.
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.
Working in Dumfries and Galloway
Towns we cover in Dumfries and Galloway include Dumfries, Stranraer, Annan. 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.
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
We visit your Dumfries and Galloway home, measure up, talk through what you want and check the planning position.
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
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 Dumfries and Galloway 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.
How long does a side return extension take to build in Dumfries and Galloway?
On site, typically 10 to 14 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 6–12 weeks design and approvals.
Do you cover all of Dumfries and Galloway?
Yes, across the whole of Dumfries and Galloway. Site visits are free and there is no obligation.
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.
How much does a side return extension cost?
Our guide range is about £2,060 to £3,720 per m² including VAT, so a typical 2 m × 5.5 m infill lands around £25,500 to £32,500 at standard spec in Dumfries and Galloway, more in London.
Book a free site visit in Dumfries and Galloway
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.