Wraparound extensions in Highlands and Islands
If you live in Highlands and Islands and want more space without moving, a wraparound extension is one of the most practical ways to get it. We handle the drawings, approvals and the build.
- Guide priceFrom £35,000 inc VAT
- PlanningScottish householder rules; building warrant needed
- Towns covered8
- Site visitFree on the mainland; islands by arrangement
Planning and approvals 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.
Covering 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.
What is included
- Roof with glazing along the side return
- Householder planning application
- Structural design for the corner and openings
- Survey, design and 3D layout options
- Full internal finish or kitchen-ready shell
- Foundations, drainage and any manhole relocation
The corner is where wraparounds succeed or fail. We usually use a single steel goalpost or a corner post hidden in a pier, and set the glazing so the new room reads as one space rather than two boxes.
Wraparound extension prices in Highlands and Islands
For Highlands and Islands we adjust our national guide rates by ×0.98, the factor we use for Scotland. Figures include VAT; your written quote after the survey replaces them.
Typical rates in Highlands and Islands: £1,960 to £3,630 per m² including VAT, depending on specification.
| Size | Essential | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact L-shape 18 m² | £35,000 – £42,500 | £40,500 – £51,500 | £51,000 – £65,500 |
| Medium L-shape 25 m² | £49,000 – £59,000 | £56,000 – £71,500 | £71,000 – £91,000 |
| Large L-shape 32 m² | £62,500 – £75,500 | £72,000 – £91,000 | £90,500 – £116,500 |
For a figure based on your own dimensions, use our guide-price tool.
How the project works
Free site visits on the mainland; island and remote addresses by arrangement, with travel costs agreed first.
Site visit
A designer visits, takes measurements and photos, and discusses layouts, budget and timing with you.
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
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 wraparound extensions
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.
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.
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Highlands and Islands, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
Is a wraparound better than a side return alone?
It adds far more space, but costs more and needs planning permission more often. Our comparison guide sets the two side by side.
How much does a wraparound extension cost?
Our guide range is about £1,960 to £3,630 per m² including VAT. A 25 m² standard-spec wraparound typically lands around £56,000 to £71,500 in Highlands and Islands before design and council fees.
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.