Omagh · County Tyrone

Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Omagh

Adding a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house in Omagh gives you two new rooms stacked on one footprint. Here's how we'd approach it, what it typically costs and the rules that apply in Northern Ireland.

Quick reference for homeowners in Omagh.

Postcode districts
BT78 and BT79
County / area
County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Price region
Northern Ireland
Guide price
£49,500–£66,500 (£1,760–£2,380 per m²)
Approval route
Depends on position: a two-storey rear extension may be permitted development (3 m deep, 7 m from the rear boundary); most others need planning permission.
Nearest towns
Dromore (County Tyrone) (8.7 miles), Castlederg (13.9 miles), Sion Mills (14.7 miles)
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house

A two-storey extension for a semi-detached house is a two-floor addition to the rear, the open side, or both, designed around the attached neighbour on one side. The rear is often the simplest option and can sometimes be permitted development, while a side extension uses the gap on the detached side. Both need care with the shared party wall and the neighbour's light.

We cover postcode districts BT78 and BT79 in and around Omagh, along with neighbouring Dromore (County Tyrone), Castlederg and Sion Mills.

What it costs in Omagh

Guide prices for two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Northern Ireland are around £1,760–£2,380 per m² of new floor space, including VAT. For a typical project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space), that's roughly £49,500–£66,500. Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.

SpecPer m²A 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 Omagh

In Northern Ireland, a two-storey rear extension on a semi 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. Upper side windows within 15 m of a boundary must be obscure and non-opening. A side extension normally needs planning, costing £347.

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 Omagh homes

Keeping the pair balanced

Semis are designed as matching pairs, and a side extension changes that balance. Setting the side extension back from the front wall and keeping its ridge lower helps the pair still read as a pair, which councils' design guides commonly ask for.

Rear, side or both

On a semi, a rear extension sits against the attached neighbour, while a side extension faces the detached neighbour and the street. We compare the space, cost and approval route for each, and for a wraparound, before you commit to one design.

How we'd run your project

  1. Free site visit

    We visit your home in Omagh, look at the structure, access and boundaries, and talk through what you want the new rooms to do.

  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. Engineer it

    Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.

  4. Finish and certify

    Second fix, plastering and making good, then building control's final inspection and the completion paperwork.

Questions about two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses in Omagh

Which postcodes do you cover around Omagh?

We cover Omagh (BT78 and BT79) and nearby places including Dromore (County Tyrone), Castlederg and Sion Mills, plus the rest of County Tyrone. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building control for a project in Omagh?

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 much does a two-storey extension for a semi-detached house cost in Omagh?

Our guide for Northern Ireland, which covers Omagh, is £1,760–£2,380 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 4 m × 3.5 m footprint on two floors (28 m² of new floor space) comes to about £49,500–£66,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Will a side extension make my semi look like a terrace?

It can if it fills the whole gap to the boundary at first floor and the neighbour does the same. Many councils ask for a first-floor gap to the side boundary or a set-back for this reason. We design the extension to keep the semi reading as one of a pair.

Does a two-storey extension add value to a semi-detached house?

It usually adds value, but the gain is never certain. Nationwide's 2025 research found that 10% more floor area was linked to about 5% higher value, and that adding a double bedroom and bathroom to a three-bed, one-bathroom house could add up to 24%. Every street has a ceiling price, so check local sales first.

Nearby

We also cover places near Omagh, including:

Other extensions in Omagh

All two-storey extension services in Omagh · Two-storey extensions for semi-detached houses across County Tyrone

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

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