Extra bedroom and en-suite extensions in Magherafelt
Homes in Magherafelt with a bit of space to the side or rear can often take an extra bedroom and en-suite extension. We'll tell you honestly whether yours can, and what approvals it needs.
What we'd confirm first for a project in Magherafelt.
- Postcode districts
- BT45
- County / area
- County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
- Price region
- Northern Ireland
- Guide price
- £49,500–£66,500 (£1,760–£2,380 per m²), plus £5,500–£11,000 for the en-suite
- Approval route
- It may be permitted development if it goes no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall and stays 7 m from the rear boundary.
- Nearest towns
- Maghera (6.8 miles), Cookstown (9.4 miles), Randalstown (12.2 miles)
- Distance to Derry
- about 32.6 miles
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
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%.
Magherafelt sits about 32.6 miles from Derry. Closer to home, Maghera is 6.8 miles away and Cookstown 9.4 miles.
What it costs in Magherafelt
Using our Northern Ireland rates, an extra bedroom and en-suite extension with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) comes to about £49,500–£66,500 (plus £5,500–£11,000 for the en-suite), including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². Design fees, structural calculations and approval fees are separate and listed on our prices page.
| Spec | Per m² | A 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | £1,620–£2,190 per m² | £45,500–£61,000 |
| Standard | £1,760–£2,380 per m² | £49,500–£66,500 |
| Premium | £2,110–£2,850 per m² | £59,000–£80,000 |
Planning and building control in Magherafelt
In Northern Ireland, a rear extra bedroom extension can be permitted development within 3 m of the original rear wall and 7 m from the rear boundary. Upper side windows within 15 m of a neighbouring boundary must be obscure-glazed and non-opening. Other designs need a planning application costing £347, plus building control approval.
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 Magherafelt homes
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.
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.
How we'd run your project
Start at your house
We come to your home in Magherafelt, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Magherafelt and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Structure and building control
A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.
Finish and certify
Second fix, plastering and making good, then building control's final inspection and the completion paperwork.
Questions about extra bedroom and en-suite extensions in Magherafelt
Who handles building control for a project in Magherafelt?
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 long does an extra bedroom and en-suite extension take?
Allow 4 to 8 weeks for survey and design, then the approval period (councils aim to decide local applications within an average of 15 weeks; many take longer), then 4 to 8 weeks of technical design, which can overlap. The build itself usually takes 14 to 20 weeks, longer for large or complex designs.
How much does an extra bedroom and en-suite extension cost in Magherafelt?
Our guide for Northern Ireland, which covers Magherafelt, is £1,760–£2,380 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) comes to about £49,500–£66,500 (plus £5,500–£11,000 for the en-suite). Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.
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.
What goes on the ground floor below a new bedroom?
Whatever suits you: a bigger kitchen, a family room, a study, a utility or a downstairs shower room. The ground floor usually costs about the same whatever it is used for, apart from kitchen units and bathroom fittings, which are priced separately.
Nearby
Other towns near Magherafelt:
Other extensions in Magherafelt
All two-storey extension services in Magherafelt · Extra bedroom and en-suite extensions across County Londonderry
Book a free site visit in Magherafelt and we'll tell you what's possible, what approvals you need and what the design stage would cost.