Currie has a real mix of housing, from 1930s bungalows along Lanark Road West to 1960s and 70s estates around Forthview and newer builds near Riccarton. That mix means no two improvement projects are quite the same, and what works for a neighbour's house may not suit yours. This guide covers the projects that make the most sense locally, what they realistically cost, and the Scottish rules you need to know before starting.
A large share of Currie's stock is the classic detached or semi-detached bungalow with a generous garden and unused roof space. That makes loft conversions and rear extensions the two most common projects here, because the plots can take them and the added bedroom or open-plan kitchen adds genuine value in a catchment area families actively move into for the schools.
The 1960s and 70s houses around the likes of Curriehill and Forthview often benefit more from fabric upgrades first: replacement windows, new heating, insulation and rewiring. Many of these homes still have original or first-generation double glazing and dated consumer units, and sorting those before cosmetic work saves ripping out new finishes later.
Prices vary with specification, access and the condition of what is already there, so treat these as planning figures rather than quotes. In and around Edinburgh, a straightforward bathroom refit typically runs from about £6,000 to £12,000, and a full kitchen replacement from roughly £10,000 to £25,000 depending on units, worktops and whether walls or services move.
Single-storey extensions in the Edinburgh area generally come in between £2,200 and £3,000 per square metre for a decent standard, so a 20 square metre kitchen extension often lands somewhere between £45,000 and £60,000 once fees and finishes are included. Loft conversions with a dormer usually range from £40,000 to £70,000. Anything involving structural steel, drainage moves or poor access will push towards the upper end.
Scotland's system differs from England's, and plenty of online advice gets this wrong. Many single-storey rear extensions fall under permitted development, but you will still need a building warrant from the City of Edinburgh Council for structural work, and warrant approval can take 8 to 12 weeks, so build that into your timeline before ordering materials.
If your house sits within a conservation area or near the Water of Leith walkway, extra rules can apply to what you build and the materials you use. Flooding is also a live consideration for properties close to the river, and the council may ask for drainage details on larger projects. A builder familiar with Edinburgh's warrant process can prepare drawings and handle the application, which usually costs a few hundred pounds in council fees plus design fees on top.
The most expensive mistake we see is decorating first and upgrading later. If a rewire, new heating or replacement windows are on the horizon, do them before plastering and painting, because chasing cables through a freshly decorated wall wastes money on both jobs.
Using one multi-trade firm rather than booking a separate joiner, plumber, electrician and plasterer has a practical benefit on projects like this: the trades sequence themselves, so you are not left with a half-finished bathroom while waiting three weeks for the next person to become available. It also means one point of responsibility if something needs putting right.
Often not, as many single-storey rear extensions fall under Scottish permitted development rules, but you will almost always need a building warrant from the City of Edinburgh Council. It is worth confirming your specific case before committing, especially near the Water of Leith or in a conservation area.
Once the building warrant is granted, most single-storey extensions take 10 to 14 weeks on site, plus 2 to 3 weeks for the kitchen fit-out. Warrant approval beforehand commonly adds 8 to 12 weeks, so allow six months or more from first drawings to finished room.
For many Currie households, yes. Moving costs in Scotland, including LBTT, legal fees and removals, can easily exceed £20,000 to £30,000 on a family home, which goes a long way towards an extension or loft conversion that adds the space you actually need.