Side return extensions in Kirkwall
Kirkwall projects are quoted by arrangement: we plan the design, approvals and build carefully around travel and material deliveries, and confirm any travel costs up front.
- Guide price in KirkwallFrom £17,500 inc VAT
- PlanningScottish householder rules; building warrant needed
- Build time10–14 weeks on site
- Postcode districtsKW15
What should I budget for a side return extension in Kirkwall?
These guide figures apply our Scotland adjustment (×0.98) to national rates. They include VAT at 20% and cover the build itself; design and council fees are listed separately.
Typical rates in Kirkwall: £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.
Planning rules that apply in Kirkwall
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. Separately, almost every extension needs a building warrant from the council before work starts.
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.
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.
Extensions in and around Kirkwall
We cover Kirkwall and the postcode districts KW15. 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.
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.
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
First, a site visit: we look at the house, garden, access and drains and listen to what you need.
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
We confirm the build price in writing, based on the approved drawings and the finishes you have chosen.
Build and sign-off
We build it with one project manager, book the building control inspections and hand over the completion certificate.
Questions people ask about side return extensions
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.
How long does a side return extension take to build in Kirkwall?
On site, typically 10 to 14 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 6–12 weeks design and approvals.
Who do I contract with for a side return extension 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 combine a side return with a rear extension?
Yes. That combination is a wraparound extension, which adds the most space to a terraced house.
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.
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.