What is a side return extension?
A side return extension fills the narrow passage that runs alongside the back addition of many Victorian and Edwardian terraced houses. It widens a galley kitchen into a proper kitchen-diner, usually with a sloping glazed roof to keep the room bright.
How much does a side return extension cost in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde?
In Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, a side return extension typically costs £2,250–£3,200 per m² of floor area, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). For a typical 12 m² project that is roughly £27,000–£38,500. Building costs in Scotland are close to the UK average, so the figures for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde are close to our national guide. Design, structural calculations and council fees are extra.
| Size or type | Guide range |
|---|---|
| Smaller project (8 m²) | £18,000–£25,500 |
| Typical project (12 m²) | £27,000–£38,500 |
| Larger project (17 m²) | £38,000–£54,500 |
| Rate per m² | £2,250–£3,200 |
The main things that change the cost:
- Agreements with neighbours on shared walls
- Glazed roof specification
- Moving drains and soil stacks
- Access through the house for materials
Your exact price depends on the survey and drawings. The guide price tool gives a quick range in the meantime.
Do you need planning permission for a side return extension in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde?
Before anything is built in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, we confirm which approvals apply in Scotland. In Scotland a single-storey infill beside a back addition can be permitted development within the height and boundary limits, but not in a conservation area. A building warrant is needed before work starts.
Scotland has no Party Wall Act. Work on shared walls is governed by your title deeds, the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 for flats, and common law, so we agree arrangements with neighbours in writing before work starts.
If the answer is not clear-cut, we can apply for formal confirmation before you commit to the build.
What we handle
On a typical side return extension we handle:
- Steel beams to remove the side wall
- Written agreement with neighbours on shared walls
- Glazed or solid roof with insulation
- Written agreement with neighbours on shared walls
- Foundations and drainage, including any build-over agreement
- Floor levelling, heating and electrics
How long does it take?
Build time is typically 10 to 14 weeks on site. Before that, surveys, drawings and approvals usually take 3 to 4 months, longer if the council asks for changes.
Building in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
In Scotland, bungalows and one-and-a-half-storey homes are common, so dormer conversions are a popular way to add bedrooms.
Towns we cover in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde include Paisley, Greenock, Newton Mearns, Renfrew, Barrhead and Johnstone.
How it works
- 01
Survey and brief
We visit, discuss your ideas and budget, and survey the property or site at no cost.
- 02
Drawings and written quote
We prepare the design and give you a written, itemised quote with inclusions and exclusions.
- 03
Approvals in place
We handle planning, building control and neighbour notices before work starts.
- 04
Build and sign-off
We run the build to a written programme and hand over the completion certificate.
Questions about side return extensions in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
Do I need planning permission for a side return extension in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde?
In Scotland a single-storey infill beside a back addition can be permitted development within the height and boundary limits, but not in a conservation area. A building warrant is needed before work starts.
Can I stay in the house?
Usually, though the kitchen will be out of action for several weeks. We plan a temporary kitchen area where possible.
Who approves a side return extension in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde?
Planning matters in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde go to the council covering your address, and the work needs a building warrant. We prepare and submit the applications for you.
How do you get materials in?
Mid-terrace houses often have no rear access, so materials come through the house. We protect floors and plan deliveries carefully.
How much space does a side return add?
Typically 1.5 to 2.5 metres of width along the back addition. It often turns a narrow galley kitchen into a family kitchen-diner.
How much does a side return extension cost in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde?
In Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, a side return extension typically costs £2,250–£3,200 per m² of floor area, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). A typical 12 m² project comes to roughly £27,000–£38,500. Your fixed price depends on the survey and drawings.