Flats and blocks · Scotland
EWI for flats and blocks in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
Get guide prices online, then a free survey and fixed quote for EWI for flats and blocks in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, including Stornoway and Lerwick. For blocks in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, we start with height, storeys and the planning position, because those decide the system.
- Free survey and fixed written price
- Guide price from £110 per m² + scaffold, 0% VAT
- Planning and building control checked for Scotland
Free survey in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
Tell us the postcode and what you need.
Included as standard
- One programme and one finish across the whole building
- Mineral wool systems where building height or guidance requires them
- Planning permission is needed for flats and maisonettes
- We work with managing agents on resident communication
- Cavity barriers and fire-stopping detailed at compartment floors
Before we quote in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
The Highlands and Islands have many exposed stone and harled homes, timber-framed houses and scattered rural properties.
Parts of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles fall in the higher wind-driven rain exposure bands, especially coastal and upland sites, so render specification, movement joints and detailing at cills, verges and the base of the wall matter more than usual.
On mixed-tenure blocks in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, we agree access and resident notices with the managing agent before scaffold goes up.
- Nation
- Scotland
- Region
- Highlands and Islands
- Towns covered
- Kirkwall, Stornoway, Lerwick
- Guide price
- From £110 per m² + scaffold · 0% VAT
Permissions in Scotland
In Scotland, householder permitted development rights are set by the Scottish GPDO and are narrower for external wall changes; insulating flats or tenements, changing the appearance of a house noticeably, or working in a conservation area usually needs planning permission. Listed buildings need listed building consent. Ask your council's planning team before committing.
Work that alters an external wall's construction is covered by the building standards system; many over-cladding projects need a building warrant from the council's building standards team, and Section 6 (Energy) of the Technical Handbooks sets insulation benchmarks.
Scotland restricts combustible external wall cladding on buildings with a storey more than 11 metres above ground, so taller buildings use non-combustible insulation systems.
For tenements and flats, your title deeds or the Tenement Management Scheme set how owners agree to the work and share its cost.
How disruptive is it for residents?
Most work happens from scaffolding outside. Residents may need to allow brief access to extend window cills, vents or flues from the inside. We provide a notice for residents covering dates, scaffold, and how to raise concerns.
EWI for flats and blocks prices in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles
| Item | Guide price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral wool system on a low-rise block | £110–£190 per m²0% VAT | Priced on survey |
| Scaffold and access | Priced per building | Includes licences where needed |
| Specification and pricing pack for consultation | Included with quote |
Confirmed by a fixed written quote after survey. 0% VAT: installing insulation in a home is zero-rated until 31 March 2027, so these figures are the total; 5% applies from 1 April 2027.
What happens next
Enquiry
Send your postcode and a few details.
Measured survey
Walls, damp, eaves, cills and services recorded.
Written price
A fixed price with the specification attached.
Work and handover
Installed, inspected and documents handed over.
Flats and blocks in Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles: questions
Do flats need planning permission for EWI?
Yes. Permitted development rights for external alterations apply to houses, not flats or maisonettes, so an application is needed.
Can one flat have external wall insulation on its own?
Rarely. The outside walls are usually owned by the freeholder, the result would look patchy, and planning is unlikely. Whole-building schemes are the norm.
Do you cover all of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles?
Yes. We survey and quote EWI for flats and blocks across Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles, including Kirkwall, Stornoway, Lerwick. Island and remote addresses are surveyed by arrangement.
Do I need planning permission in Scotland?
In Scotland, householder permitted development rights are set by the Scottish GPDO and are narrower for external wall changes; insulating flats or tenements, changing the appearance of a house noticeably, or working in a conservation area usually needs planning permission. We check your address before quoting.