Design and build two-storey extensions in County Antrim

County Antrim at a glance

Nation: Northern Ireland
Price region: Northern Ireland
Postcode areas: BT
Towns covered: 15 listed below, plus surrounding villages
Site visits: Free, no obligation

What a design and build project involves

A design and build project for a two-storey extension involves one team taking responsibility for the whole job: the survey, design, planning or permitted development, structural engineering, building regulations, party wall matters where they apply and the construction itself. You deal with one point of contact instead of coordinating an architect, engineer and builder separately. The design stage is priced first, then the build at a fixed price.

Towns in County Antrim include Belfast (BT1), Lisburn (BT10), Newtownabbey (BT36), Castlereagh (BT4), Carrickfergus (BT38) and Ballymena (BT42). If yours isn't listed, we still cover it.

Fees

The design stage is priced in writing before it starts, and the build is a fixed price in writing once the design is agreed.

Rules in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, design and build covers the permitted development check or a planning application (£347), building control approval from the council under the Technical Booklets and neighbour matters under common law and title deeds, as there is no Party Wall Act. Planning decisions often take longer, which we build into the programme.

Approval in Northern Ireland: Planning application for works to a house: £347. Councils aim to decide local applications within an average of 15 weeks; many take longer.

Building control: Building control approval from the local council under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland), using the Technical Booklets.

There is no Party Wall Act in Northern Ireland. Shared walls and boundaries are a matter of title and common law, so we agree access and record conditions with neighbours before work starts.

Getting the design right

How the stages work

We start with a free site visit, then a design stage priced in writing before it begins. That covers the survey, design, approvals, structural design and building regulations. Once the design is agreed, the build price is fixed in writing before work starts.

Cost checking as you design

Because the people drawing the extension also build it, each design option comes with a guide cost. That avoids the common problem of an approved design that turns out to be too expensive once builders price it.

How we work in County Antrim

Look at the house
We start in County Antrim with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.
Drawings, then consent
We draw the scheme, check it against the rules in Northern Ireland, and take it through the right consent with the council.
Structure and building control
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.
Build
Foundations, walls, floor, roof, windows, then first and second fix. We break through into the house as late as we can.

Towns we cover in County Antrim

Design and build two-storey extensions in County Antrim: questions

Who builds my extension?

Your extension is built by vetted teams working under S&K, with the project managed by us from design to completion. You have one point of contact throughout, and the same team that prepared the design is responsible for the build.

What is the difference between design and build and using an architect?

With an architect, you appoint them for the design and approvals, then find and manage a builder separately. With design and build, one team does both, so cost, buildability and approvals are considered together and there is one point of contact. Some people still prefer to hire an architect separately.

Do I have to use you for the build if I pay for the design stage?

No. The design stage is priced separately, so you can take the approved drawings to other builders if you choose. Most people who use design and build carry on to the build, because the design has been costed as it developed.

Neighbouring areas

All extension services in County Antrim · About design and build two-storey extensions