Part single, part two-storey extensions in County Antrim

County Antrim at a glance

Nation: Northern Ireland
Price region: Northern Ireland
Postcode areas: BT
Towns covered: 15 listed below, plus surrounding villages
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.
Site visits: Free, no obligation

What a part single, part two-storey extension involves

A part single, part two-storey extension is an extension where the ground floor is wider or deeper than the floor above, so only part of it rises to two storeys. It usually gives a large kitchen or living area with roof lights below and one bedroom or bathroom above. It is often a good way to add space while limiting the effect on neighbours.

Towns in County Antrim include Belfast (BT1), Lisburn (BT10), Newtownabbey (BT36), Castlereagh (BT4), Carrickfergus (BT38) and Ballymena (BT42). If yours isn't listed, we still cover it.

Guide price in Northern Ireland

Our guide for Northern Ireland is £1,760–£2,420 per m² including VAT. On a project with a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total), that puts a part single, part two-storey extension in County Antrim at roughly £63,500–£87,000. The fastest way to a firmer number is a free site visit, after which we price the design stage in writing.

Spec	Per m²	Typical project
Essential	£1,620–£2,230 per m²	£58,500–£80,000
Standard	£1,760–£2,420 per m²	£63,500–£87,000
Premium	£2,110–£2,900 per m²	£76,000–£104,500

Rules in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, the extension can be permitted development if it 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 met. Specified protected areas are excluded. If the design goes further, a planning application costs £347 per dwelling, and building control approval is needed either way.

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.

There is no Party Wall Act in Northern Ireland. Shared walls and boundaries are a matter of title and common law, so we agree access and record conditions with neighbours before work starts.

Getting the design right

Where to put the two-storey part

The two-storey section usually works best away from the closest neighbour, with the single-storey part on that boundary side. We test a few positions against neighbours' windows, the upstairs layout and the roof shape before choosing the one to take forward.

The roof junction

Where the single-storey roof meets the two-storey wall you need a sound weathering detail, usually a lead or similar flashing, and enough height for roof lights or a lantern. We set the roof falls and the upstairs window sill heights together so they do not clash.

How we work in County Antrim

Understand the brief
At your home in County Antrim we agree what you need: bedroom count, bathroom, kitchen space, and how much garden you want to keep.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for County Antrim 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.
On site
One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

Towns we cover in County Antrim

Part single, part two-storey extensions in County Antrim: questions

How much does a part single, part two-storey extension cost in County Antrim?

In Northern Ireland our guide is £1,760–£2,420 per m² including VAT, so about £63,500–£87,000 for a 6 m × 4 m ground floor and a first floor over half of it (36 m² in total). Essential and Premium specs move that by roughly 8% down or 20% up.

Can the single-storey part be deeper than the two-storey part?

With planning permission, yes, and that is often the point of the design: the ground floor projects further into the garden while the first floor stays back from neighbours. Under permitted development, the depth limits for extensions of more than one storey can apply to the whole extension, so we confirm which route applies before drawings are finalised.

Which side should the two-storey part go on?

Usually the side furthest from the nearest neighbour's windows, so the single-storey part sits nearest them and keeps their light. Other factors are where the stairs land upstairs, which room needs the extra space and where drains run. We sketch options at the design stage and explain which is most likely to be approved.

Will I need planning permission in County Antrim?

County Antrim 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.

Neighbouring areas

All extension services in County Antrim · About part single, part two-storey extensions