Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Ballycastle
For a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Ballycastle, the first questions are always the same: how big, which approvals, and what it will cost. This page answers all three for County Antrim.
What we'd confirm first for a project in Ballycastle.
- Postcode districts
- BT54
- County / area
- County Antrim, Northern Ireland
- Price region
- Northern Ireland
- Guide price
- £49,500–£66,500 (£1,760–£2,380 per m²), kitchen units and worktops priced separately
- 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
- Ballymoney (14 miles), Portrush (16 miles), Coleraine (17.4 miles)
- Distance to Belfast
- about 43.8 miles
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
About a kitchen extension with bedrooms above
A kitchen extension with bedrooms above is a two-storey extension designed so the ground floor becomes a larger, usually open-plan kitchen and dining space, with one or two bedrooms or a bathroom on the first floor. It is a natural fit for a two-storey rear extension. The key design issues are the steel beams that open up the house, glazing and ventilation.
Ballycastle sits about 43.8 miles from Belfast. Closer to home, Ballymoney is 14.0 miles away and Portrush 16.0 miles.
What it costs in Ballycastle
In Northern Ireland, which includes Ballycastle, we'd expect a kitchen extension with bedrooms above to cost around £49,500–£66,500 (kitchen units and worktops priced separately) for a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space), or £1,760–£2,380 per m² including VAT. The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.
| 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 Ballycastle
In Northern Ireland, a kitchen extension with bedrooms above can be permitted development if it goes no more than 3 m beyond the original rear wall and stays 7 m from the rear boundary, with height, materials and roof pitch conditions. Otherwise a planning application costs £347 per dwelling, and building control approval from the council is needed.
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 Ballycastle homes
Bedrooms over a kitchen
Bedrooms above need an escape window or a protected route to the stairs, plus good sound insulation from the kitchen below. We position the stairs, landing and bedroom doors so the new rooms connect naturally to the existing first floor.
Steel beams and the open-plan opening
Removing the old rear wall to make one large room means a steel beam, sometimes several, to carry the first floor and roof. The engineer sizes the steel and its supports, and we decide early whether you want a flush ceiling with the beam hidden or a downstand, as this affects ceiling heights.
How we'd run your project
Visit and first ideas
One of our team visits your house in Ballycastle, checks the walls, roof and drains, and sketches out options with you.
Choose the approval route
Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Northern Ireland before drawing in detail.
Detail and price
Construction drawings, engineer's calculations and building control sign-off, then a written fixed price for the build.
On site
One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.
Questions about kitchen extensions with bedrooms above in Ballycastle
How long does a kitchen extension with bedrooms above 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.
Do I need planning permission for a kitchen extension with bedrooms above in Ballycastle?
Ballycastle 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 Ballycastle?
We cover Ballycastle (BT54) and nearby places including Ballymoney, Portrush and Coleraine, plus the rest of County Antrim. The first site visit is free.
Can I keep using my kitchen during the build?
For part of it. The new structure can be built while your existing kitchen stays in use, but when the rear wall is opened and the new kitchen is fitted there will be several weeks without one. We plan when this happens and help you set up a temporary kitchen elsewhere in the house.
Is it cheaper to build a kitchen extension and bedrooms at the same time?
Yes, in most cases. Building both floors at once means one set of foundations, one roof, one scaffold and one set of approvals. Adding a first floor later means removing the original roof, possibly strengthening the foundations and disrupting the kitchen again. If you think you will need the bedroom, build it now.
Nearby
Close to Ballycastle? We work across the area, including:
Other extensions in Ballycastle
All two-storey extension services in Ballycastle · Kitchen extensions with bedrooms above across County Antrim
The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Ballycastle and give you an honest view of the options.