Single-storey rear extensions for homes in Highlands and Islands
If you live in Highlands and Islands and want more space without moving, a single-storey extension is one of the most practical ways to get it. We handle the drawings, approvals and the build.
- Guide priceFrom £20,500 inc VAT
- PlanningScottish householder rules; building warrant needed
- Towns covered8
- Site visitFree on the mainland; islands by arrangement
Do I need planning permission in Highlands and Islands?
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.
Homes in conservation areas, national scenic areas and listed buildings have tighter rules, so we always check the property's status and planning history before design starts.
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.
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.
Applications are decided by your council as planning authority.
Working in Highlands and Islands
Towns we cover in Highlands and Islands include Inverness, Fort William, Nairn, Thurso, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Stornoway, Dingwall. 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.
Who a single-storey extension suits
- Homeowners who want open-plan living onto the garden
- Terraced houses that want a deeper kitchen across the full width
- Semi-detached and detached houses with a usable rear garden
Depth is the big decision. Every extra metre adds floor area but also takes garden and can push you out of permitted development. We draw the room at two or three depths so you can see the trade-off in space, light and cost before anything is fixed.
Guide prices for Highlands and Islands
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 Highlands and Islands: £1,720 to £3,330 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 m × 4 m 12 m² | £20,500 – £24,500 | £24,000 – £31,000 | £30,500 – £40,000 |
| 4 m × 5 m 20 m² | £34,000 – £40,500 | £40,000 – £51,000 | £50,500 – £67,000 |
| 5 m × 6 m 30 m² | £51,000 – £60,500 | £60,000 – £76,500 | £76,000 – £100,000 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
Our process, step by step
Free site visits on the mainland; island and remote addresses by arrangement, with travel costs agreed first.
Site visit
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
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.
Your questions about a single-storey extension in Highlands and Islands
Do you cover all of Highlands and Islands?
Yes, across the whole of Highlands and Islands. Free site visits on the mainland; island and remote addresses by arrangement, with travel costs agreed first.
Do I need building regulations approval in Highlands and Islands?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. In Scotland that means a building warrant before work starts.
How long does a single-storey extension take to build in Highlands and Islands?
On site, typically 10 to 16 weeks once approvals are in place. Before that, allow 4–12 weeks design and approvals.
How much does a single-storey extension cost per square metre?
Our guide range is about £1,720 to £3,330 per m² including VAT, depending on specification. A standard-spec 4 m × 5 m room usually lands at £40,000 to £51,000 in Highlands and Islands, plus design and council fees.
Flat roof or pitched roof?
Flat roofs give more headroom inside and suit lanterns and rooflights; pitched roofs can blend better with older houses. Both meet building regulations when built properly. See our flat roof and pitched roof pages for the details.
Book a site visit in Highlands and Islands
We will measure up, check the planning position and give you honest guide figures.
- Free site visits on the mainland; islands and remote addresses by arrangement
- 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 site visit
Tell us a little about the project and we will arrange a time.