Extra bedroom and en-suite extensions in Kirkwall
Thinking about an extra bedroom and en-suite extension in Kirkwall? We design it, take it through the approvals it needs and build it, with one team responsible from the first visit to the final certificate.
We take on projects in Kirkwall by arrangement. Site visits here aren't free as standard, and we'll agree travel costs with you in writing first.
Useful details for planning an extra bedroom and en-suite extension in Kirkwall.
- Postcode districts
- KW15 and KW17
- County / area
- The Highlands, Moray and Islands, Scotland
- Price region
- Scotland
- Guide price
- £52,500–£71,000 (£1,880–£2,540 per m²), plus £5,500–£11,000 for the en-suite
- 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
- Thurso (33.9 miles), Wick (38 miles), Lossiemouth (88.1 miles)
- Distance to Inverness
- about 113.8 miles
- First visit
- By arrangement
About an extra bedroom and en-suite extension
An extra bedroom and en-suite extension is a two-storey extension planned around a new double bedroom with its own shower room on the first floor, with a ground-floor room below. It is one of the most effective ways to add space for a growing family. Nationwide's 2025 research linked adding a double bedroom and bathroom to a three-bed, one-bathroom house with value gains of up to 24%.
We cover Kirkwall (KW15 and KW17) and the places around it, including Thurso (33.9 miles), Wick (38.0 miles) and Lossiemouth.
What it costs in Kirkwall
A guide price for Kirkwall: around £52,500–£71,000 (plus £5,500–£11,000 for the en-suite) for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space). That works out at £1,880–£2,540 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.
| Spec | Per m² | A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,730–£2,330 per m² | £48,500–£65,500 |
| Standard | £1,880–£2,540 per m² | £52,500–£71,000 |
| Premium | £2,260–£3,050 per m² | £63,000–£85,500 |
Planning and building standards in Kirkwall
In Scotland, an extra bedroom on a new first floor makes the extension more than one storey, so Class 1B applies, needing at least 10 m to every boundary. Most plots need a householder application, which costs £371 and is decided within two months. The building warrant then covers the escape window, ventilation and drainage.
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 Kirkwall homes
Sound and privacy
Bedrooms above a kitchen or family room benefit from an insulated floor to reduce noise. Side-facing upstairs windows usually have to be obscure-glazed, so we place the main bedroom window to the rear and the en-suite window to the side where possible.
Connecting to the landing
The new bedroom must be reached from the existing landing, usually through a new opening in the outside wall or by taking part of an existing bedroom as a corridor. We look at the stairs and landing first, because a poor connection can waste much of the new space.
How we'd run your project
Visit by arrangement
We agree a visit to your home in Kirkwall and any travel costs with you in writing first, then look at the structure, access and boundaries.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Scotland, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Structure and building standards
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get a building warrant before work starts.
On site
One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.
Questions about extra bedroom and en-suite extensions in Kirkwall
Which postcodes do you cover around Kirkwall?
We cover Kirkwall (KW15 and KW17) and nearby places including Thurso, Wick and Lossiemouth, plus the rest of the Highlands, Moray and Islands. Visits and projects in Kirkwall are by arrangement, with travel costs agreed in writing first.
Who handles building standards for a project in Kirkwall?
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 planning permission for an extra bedroom and en-suite extension in Kirkwall?
Kirkwall 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.
Does an extra bedroom add value to my house?
It usually does, though not always by the full cost. Nationwide's 2025 research found that adding a double bedroom to a two-bed house was linked to about 13% higher value, and a double bedroom and bathroom on a three-bed, one-bathroom house up to 24%. Local ceiling prices still apply.
How big should a new double bedroom be?
There is no legal minimum size for a bedroom in a house you own, so the test is whether it works. A comfortable double needs room for the bed with space to walk round it, wardrobes and a door that opens freely. We draw furniture on the plans so you can judge the space before anything is built.
Nearby
Other towns near Kirkwall:
Other extensions in Kirkwall
All two-storey extension services in Kirkwall · Extra bedroom and en-suite extensions across the Highlands, Moray and Islands
Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Kirkwall.