Two-storey rear extensions in Derry

Useful details for planning a two-storey rear extension in Derry.

Postcode districts: BT48
County / area: County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Price region: Northern Ireland
Guide price: £49,500–£66,500 (£1,760–£2,380 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: New Buildings (3.1 miles), Culmore (4 miles), Eglinton (5.2 miles)
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a two-storey rear extension

A two-storey rear extension suits you if you need more room on both floors and have a reasonably deep garden. You get one team for the whole job: a measured survey, the design, a check on whether permitted development applies, planning drawings where they are needed, structural design, building regulations approval and the build itself, carried out by vetted teams working under S&K. Every project starts with a free site visit.

We cover Derry (BT48) and the places around it, including New Buildings (3.1 miles), Culmore (4.0 miles) and Eglinton.

What it costs in Derry

In Northern Ireland, which includes Derry, we'd expect a two-storey rear extension to cost around £49,500–£66,500 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. Steelwork for wide openings is the item most likely to move the figure; we'll know once the engineer has designed it.

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 Derry

In Northern Ireland, a two-storey rear 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 conditions on height, materials and roof pitch. Upper side windows within 15 m of a neighbouring boundary must be obscure-glazed and non-opening. Otherwise 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 Derry homes

Depth and neighbours' light

Councils check that a two-storey rear extension does not take too much light or outlook from neighbouring windows, and many use a 45-degree line drawn from the nearest habitable window. We test this at sketch stage, so the depth you are shown is one that can realistically be approved.

Opening up the ground floor

Knocking through the old rear wall means steel beams to carry the first floor and roof above. The structural engineer sets the beam sizes, padstones and any posts, and we plan them early so the open-plan layout you want is the one that gets built.

How we'd run your project

Start at your house
We come to your home in Derry, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Derry and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Fixed price in writing
With approved drawings and calculations, we give you a fixed build price and a programme you can plan around.
On site
One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

Questions about two-storey rear extensions in Derry

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey rear extension in Derry?

Derry 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 Derry?

We cover Derry (BT48) and nearby places including New Buildings, Culmore and Eglinton, plus the rest of County Londonderry. The first site visit is free.

Who handles building control for a project in Derry?

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 long does a two-storey rear 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.

Will a two-storey rear extension block my neighbour's light?

It can if it is too deep or too close to the boundary, which is why councils look closely at its effect on neighbouring windows and gardens. We test the design against light and outlook early, keep the first floor shorter or set in where needed, and use a hipped roof to reduce bulk on the boundary side.

Nearby

The same service in neighbouring towns:

Other extensions in Derry

All two-storey extension services in Derry · Two-storey rear extensions across County Londonderry

The quickest next step is a visit. We'll look at your house in Derry and give you an honest view of the options.