First-floor extensions in Dromore (County Down)

What we'd confirm first for a project in Dromore (County Down).

Postcode districts: BT25
County / area: County Down, Northern Ireland
Price region: Northern Ireland
Guide price: £22,000–£32,000 (£1,580–£2,290 per m²)
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: Donaghcloney (4.4 miles), Moira (5.6 miles), Waringstown (6.2 miles)
Distance to Bangor (County Down): about 25.8 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a first-floor extension

A first-floor extension is a new upstairs room built on top of an existing single-storey part of your house, such as a rear kitchen extension, a utility or a side annexe. It adds a bedroom, bathroom or study without enlarging the footprint. Whether it works depends mainly on whether the walls and foundations below can carry the extra load.

Dromore (County Down) sits about 25.8 miles from Bangor (County Down). Closer to home, Donaghcloney is 4.4 miles away and Moira 5.6 miles.

What it costs in Dromore (County Down)

Most of the cost of a first-floor extension is set by its size and specification. For Dromore (County Down) and the rest of Northern Ireland, our guide is £1,580–£2,290 per m² including VAT, so about £22,000–£32,000 for 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). 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	4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²)
Essential	£1,460–£2,100 per m²	£20,500–£29,500
Standard	£1,580–£2,290 per m²	£22,000–£32,000
Premium	£1,900–£2,750 per m²	£26,500–£38,500

Planning and building control in Dromore (County Down)

In Northern Ireland, a first floor over a rear extension can be permitted development if the extension goes no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall and stays at least 7 m from the rear boundary, with height, materials and roof pitch conditions. Over a side extension, or beyond these limits, a planning application costs £347 per dwelling.

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 Dromore (County Down) homes

Tying into the house

The new floor and walls must line up with the existing first floor, often through a new opening in the rear wall above the old one. Floor levels, the position of upstairs windows and the existing roof all affect where the opening can go, so we survey both floors carefully.

Can the existing structure take it?

Many single-storey extensions were built with foundations, walls and lintels sized for one storey. We find out what is there with trial holes and, where available, the original building control drawings. The engineer then decides whether to reuse, strengthen or rebuild parts of the structure.

How we'd run your project

Start at your house
We come to your home in Dromore (County Down), measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Design and approvals
We draw the extension and check it against the rules for Northern Ireland, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.
Build it
The new structure goes up first, then we open into the house, finish inside and get the completion certificate.

Questions about first-floor extensions in Dromore (County Down)

How much does a first-floor extension cost in Dromore (County Down)?

Our guide for Northern Ireland, which covers Dromore (County Down), is £1,580–£2,290 per m² including VAT. A typical project with 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²) comes to about £22,000–£32,000. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Who handles building control for a project in Dromore (County Down)?

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 a first-floor 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.

What happens to the room below while the first floor is built?

The old roof is removed, so the room below is exposed for a short period. We fit temporary weather protection, plan the work so the roof comes off only when the new structure is ready, and agree with you which rooms will be out of use and for roughly how long.

Can I build on top of my existing single-storey extension?

Often yes, but only after the structure has been checked. Foundations, walls and lintels built for one storey may not carry two. We dig trial holes, look for the original building control approval and ask the structural engineer to confirm what can stay, what needs strengthening and what must be rebuilt.

Nearby

Nearby towns we cover for first-floor extensions:

Other extensions in Dromore (County Down)

All two-storey extension services in Dromore (County Down) · First-floor extensions across County Down

Tell us about your house in Dromore (County Down) and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.