First-floor extensions in Maghera

Maghera: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts: BT46
County / area: County Londonderry, 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: Magherafelt (6.8 miles), Dungiven (11.5 miles), Cookstown (14.2 miles)
Distance to Derry: about 27.4 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a first-floor extension

A first-floor extension suits you if your house already has a single-storey extension and you need more space upstairs. You get a structural check of the existing walls and foundations, a design that ties the new floor into the house, the approvals your nation needs, building regulations approval and the build, managed by us and carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

We cover Maghera (BT46) and the places around it, including Magherafelt (6.8 miles), Dungiven (11.5 miles) and Cookstown.

What it costs in Maghera

Expect a first-floor extension in Maghera to land somewhere around £22,000–£32,000 for 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). Our Northern Ireland guide rate is £1,580–£2,290 per m², including VAT. Kitchens, bathroom fittings and flooring are priced separately so you can compare like with like.

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 Maghera

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 Maghera 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.

Escape and fire safety

A new first-floor bedroom needs an escape window with a clear opening of at least 0.33 m², at least 450 mm wide and 450 mm high, with the bottom no more than 1,100 mm above the floor, unless there is a protected route to the stairs.

How we'd run your project

Understand the brief
At your home in Maghera we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
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.
Engineer it
Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.
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 first-floor extensions in Maghera

Do I need planning permission for a first-floor extension in Maghera?

Maghera is in Northern Ireland. 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Maghera?

We cover Maghera (BT46) and nearby places including Magherafelt, Dungiven and Cookstown, plus the rest of County Londonderry. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building control for a project in Maghera?

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.

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.

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.

Nearby

Close to Maghera? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Maghera

All two-storey extension services in Maghera · First-floor extensions across County Londonderry

Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.