Newry · County Down

First-floor extensions in Newry

For a first-floor extension in Newry, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for County Down.

Quick reference for homeowners in Newry.

Postcode districts
BT35
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
Warrenpoint (6.2 miles), Banbridge (12.1 miles), Tandragee (12.6 miles)
Distance to Bangor (County Down)
about 42.8 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.

Newry sits about 42.8 miles from Bangor (County Down). Closer to home, Warrenpoint is 6.2 miles away and Banbridge 12.1 miles.

What it costs in Newry

A guide price for Newry: around £22,000–£32,000 for 4 m × 3.5 m of new first-floor space (14 m²). That works out at £1,580–£2,290 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.

SpecPer m²4 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 Newry

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 Newry homes

Replacing the flat roof

The existing roof usually comes off and is replaced by a new first-floor structure. The room below is exposed for a short time, so we plan temporary weatherproofing and sequence the work to keep the kitchen or living room usable for as long as possible.

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.

How we'd run your project

  1. Visit and first ideas

    One of our team visits your house in Newry, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.

  2. 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.

  3. Technical design

    We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.

  4. On site

    One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

Questions about first-floor extensions in Newry

How much does a first-floor extension cost in Newry?

Our guide for Northern Ireland, which covers Newry, 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.

Which postcodes do you cover around Newry?

We cover Newry (BT35) and nearby places including Warrenpoint, Banbridge and Tandragee, plus the rest of County Down. The first site visit is free.

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

We also cover places near Newry, including:

Other extensions in Newry

All two-storey extension services in Newry · First-floor extensions across County Down

Tell us about your house in Newry and we'll call you back to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.

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