Isle of Islay · Argyll and Bute

Extensions over a garage in Isle of Islay

For an extension over a garage in Isle of Islay, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for Argyll and Bute.

We take on projects in Isle of Islay by arrangement. Site visits here aren't free as standard, and we'll agree travel costs with you in writing first.

Quick reference for homeowners in Isle of Islay.

Postcode districts
PA43, PA44, PA45, PA46, PA48 and PA49
County / area
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Price region
Scotland
Guide price
£29,500–£43,000 (£1,640–£2,400 per m²)
Approval route
Planning permission is usually needed: Class 1B permitted development only applies if every part of the extension is at least 10 m from all boundaries. A building warrant is needed before work starts.
Nearest towns
Isle of Mull (49.1 miles), Campbeltown (35 miles), Lochgilphead (35.8 miles)
Distance to Helensburgh
about 60.5 miles
First visit
By arrangement

About an extension over a garage

An extension over a garage suits you if you have an attached single garage beside the house and need an extra bedroom or a larger main bedroom with an en-suite. You get an inspection of the garage structure, a design that matches the house, the approvals your nation needs, structural design, a building warrant and the build, carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

Isle of Islay sits about 60.5 miles from Helensburgh. Closer to home, Isle of Mull is 49.1 miles away and Campbeltown 35.0 miles.

What it costs in Isle of Islay

In Scotland, which includes Isle of Islay, we'd expect an extension over a garage to cost around £29,500–£43,000 for 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²), or £1,640–£2,400 per m² including VAT. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.

SpecPer m²3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²)
Essential£1,510–£2,210 per m²£27,000–£39,500
Standard£1,640–£2,400 per m²£29,500–£43,000
Premium£1,970–£2,880 per m²£35,500–£52,000

Planning and building standards in Isle of Islay

In Scotland, a room over a garage makes the extension more than one storey, so Class 1B applies, which needs at least 10 m to every boundary for permitted development. Attached garages are rarely that far from the boundary, so expect a householder application (£371, decided within two months) and a building warrant.

Approval in Scotland: Householder planning application: £371. Councils have two months to decide a local planning application.

Building standards: A building warrant from the council's building standards service before work starts, and a completion certificate at the end. Scotland uses its own Technical Handbooks.

Design points for Isle of Islay homes

Garage walls and the door opening

Garage walls are often a single skin of brick or block with piers, and the wide door opening needs a beam over it. Many over-garage extensions need new inner walls or a steel frame to carry the floor and to insulate properly, which we confirm before the design is fixed.

Matching the house

A room over a garage usually sits beside the front of the house in full view, so roof form, ridge height, windows and brick matter. Setting the front wall and ridge back slightly from the main house usually helps it look as if it belongs.

How we'd run your project

  1. Visit by arrangement

    We agree a visit to your home in Isle of Islay and any travel costs with you in writing first, then look at the structure, access and boundaries.

  2. Drawings, then consent

    We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Scotland, and take it through the right consent with the council.

  3. Price it properly

    Once the engineer's calculations are in, we fix the build price in writing, with a clear list of what's included.

  4. Build it

    The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Questions about extensions over a garage in Isle of Islay

Do I need planning permission for an extension over a garage in Isle of Islay?

Isle of Islay is in Scotland. Planning permission is usually needed: Class 1B permitted development only applies if every part of the extension is at least 10 m from all boundaries. A building warrant is needed before work starts.

How much does an extension over a garage cost in Isle of Islay?

Our guide for Scotland, which covers Isle of Islay, is £1,640–£2,400 per m² including VAT. A typical project with 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²) comes to about £29,500–£43,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Who handles building standards for a project in Isle of Islay?

We handle it as part of the project. What's needed in Scotland: a building warrant from the council's building standards service before work starts, and a completion certificate at the end. Scotland uses its own Technical Handbooks. We prepare the drawings and the engineer's calculations, book the inspections and pass you the completion paperwork at the end.

Do I need to convert the garage as well?

No. You can keep the garage for parking or storage and build only the room above, as long as the floor between them and any door into the house meet fire separation rules. Converting the garage at the same time is often good value, because the walls and foundations may be upgraded anyway.

How do I get into a room over the garage?

Usually through a new opening off the existing landing or a bedroom, so the stairs stay where they are. If the floor levels do not match, a step or two may be needed inside the new room. Where a landing opening is not practical, a new stair from a converted garage is an option.

Nearby

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in Isle of Islay

All two-storey extension services in Isle of Islay · Extensions over a garage across Argyll and Bute

Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.

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