Extensions over a garage in Donaghadee
If you live in Donaghadee and need more room without moving, an extension over a garage is worth a serious look. We handle the drawings, approvals, structure and build.
What we'd confirm first for a project in Donaghadee.
- Postcode districts
- BT21
- County / area
- County Down, Northern Ireland
- Price region
- Northern Ireland
- Guide price
- £27,500–£40,500 (£1,540–£2,240 per m²)
- Approval route
- Planning permission is needed: permitted development side extensions in Northern Ireland can't be more than 4 m high, which rules out two storeys.
- Nearest towns
- Bangor (County Down) (5.5 miles), Newtownards (7.1 miles), Comber (10.5 miles)
- Distance to Bangor (County Down)
- about 5.4 miles
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
About an extension over a garage
An extension over a garage is a new first-floor room built on top of an existing attached garage, usually a bedroom, en-suite or study. It uses a footprint you already have, so it adds floor space without taking any garden. The garage walls and foundations often need strengthening or replacing to carry the new floor.
Around Donaghadee we also work in Bangor (County Down), Newtownards and Comber, and across the rest of County Down. Postcode district in and near Donaghadee: BT21.
What it costs in Donaghadee
A guide price for Donaghadee: around £27,500–£40,500 for 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²). That works out at £1,540–£2,240 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.
| Spec | Per m² | 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,420–£2,060 per m² | £25,500–£37,000 |
| Standard | £1,540–£2,240 per m² | £27,500–£40,500 |
| Premium | £1,850–£2,690 per m² | £33,500–£48,500 |
Planning and building control in Donaghadee
In Northern Ireland, permitted development for two-storey work is set out for rear extensions, so building over a side garage normally needs a planning application, which costs £347 per dwelling. Councils aim for an average of 15 weeks for local applications. Building control approval is also needed, including fire separation if the garage stays in use.
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.
Design points for Donaghadee homes
Floor levels and headroom
Garage floors are often lower than the house, and the new first floor may not line up with the existing landing. We set the floor level to avoid awkward steps upstairs, while keeping enough headroom in the garage below for a car or storage.
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.
How we'd run your project
Visit and first ideas
One of our team visits your house in Donaghadee, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Donaghadee and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
Build and sign-off
Vetted teams working under S&K build the extension, and we arrange the building control completion certificate at the end.
Questions about extensions over a garage in Donaghadee
Do I need planning permission for an extension over a garage in Donaghadee?
Donaghadee is in Northern Ireland. Planning permission is needed: permitted development side extensions in Northern Ireland can't be more than 4 m high, which rules out two storeys.
Who handles building control for a project in Donaghadee?
We handle it as part of the project. What's needed in Northern Ireland: building control approval from the local council under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland), using the Technical Booklets. We prepare the drawings and the engineer's calculations, book the inspections and pass you the completion paperwork at the end.
How much does an extension over a garage cost in Donaghadee?
Our guide for Northern Ireland, which covers Donaghadee, is £1,540–£2,240 per m² including VAT. A typical project with 3 m × 6 m of new first-floor space (18 m²) comes to about £27,500–£40,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.
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.
Can my garage take a room on top?
Sometimes, but it needs checking. Many garages are built on shallow footings with thin walls, designed only for a single storey. We dig a trial hole and inspect the walls, and the structural engineer decides whether to reuse them, strengthen them, underpin the footings or build new foundations inside the garage.
Nearby
Close to Donaghadee? We work across the area, including:
Other extensions in Donaghadee
- Rear
- Side
- Wraparound
- Part two-storey
- First floor
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Donaghadee · Extensions over a garage across County Down
Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.