Inverness, Highlands and Islands
Side return extension in Inverness
Side return extension in Inverness: infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. We measure the house, show you what the rules allow, price it in writing and build it.
Inverness and its postcode districts IV1 and IV3 are part of our Highlands and Islands coverage. In Inverness we check the boundary line and the neighbour's gutter before drawing a side return, because a few centimetres decide whether the wall goes on or beside the boundary.
Book a free site visit
Tell us about the house and we'll call to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.
How much does a side return extension cost in Inverness?
For Inverness we work from the Scotland rate: £2,180–£3,610 per square metre of new floor, including VAT, standard specification. Prices in Scotland sit a little below our West Midlands baseline; building warrant fees and drawings are budgeted separately.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²) | £26,000–£43,500 |
| 2.5 m wide × 7 m deep (17.5 m²) | £38,000–£63,000 |
Your written price follows a measured survey and an agreed design, so it reflects your house, not an average.
Do you need planning permission for a side return extension in Inverness?
Planning for a side return extension in Inverness follows the Scottish householder rules.
In Scotland side extensions are more restricted than rear ones under householder permitted development, and wraparounds generally need planning permission. A building warrant is required before work starts.
Scotland has no Party Wall Act. Work to shared walls is governed by property law and the title deeds, so we agree access and protection with neighbours in writing before work begins.
Classes 1A and 1B do not apply in conservation areas, and listed buildings need listed building consent. We check your house's planning history and any conservation area before drawing, so the route is clear before you spend on plans.
What are homes in Inverness like to extend?
Inverness has sandstone tenements, terraced houses and villas closer in, with post-war semis and newer estates further out. Tenement and other flats need planning permission for an extension, and every project needs a building warrant before work starts.
How a side return extension in Inverness comes together
Free site visit
We measure the house and garden, look at the back wall, drainage and boundaries, and talk through what you want from the space.
Options and costs
We draw layout options and price each one, so the budget shapes the design rather than surprising you later.
Planning and regulations
We take the design through the right planning route, then produce the construction drawings and engineer's calculations for the building warrant.
Written price, then build
Once the design and approvals are in place, you get a fixed written price and programme, and we build through to sign-off.
Side return extensions near Inverness
From Inverness, the nearest places we also cover are Nairn (14.6 miles) and Elgin (35.6 miles).
- Side return extension in Nairn
- Side return extension in Elgin
- Side return extension in Fort William
- Side return extension in Blairgowrie and Rattray
- Side return extension in Inverurie
Other work in Inverness:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Inverness
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Inverness?
Many single-storey rear extensions are permitted development under Class 1A, but not in conservation areas; you always need a building warrant before work starts.
Can I live at home while the extension is built?
Usually yes. Most of the work is outside until the back wall is opened near the end, and that stage is screened off.
Can I combine a side return with a rear extension?
Yes; that is a wraparound extension, and it gives the biggest open-plan room a terrace can have.
Can I get a price without a visit?
Our online guide-price tool gives a range in a couple of minutes. A written price needs a survey.
What postcode areas do you cover around Inverness?
Including IV1 and IV3, and the surrounding Highlands and Islands area.
Do you handle building control in Inverness?
Yes. We apply for the building warrant before work starts and submit the completion certificate at the end.