Two-storey side extensions in Comber

Before you start in Comber, here's what applies.

Postcode districts: BT23
County / area: County Down, Northern Ireland
Price region: Northern Ireland
Guide price: £76,000–£101,500 (£1,800–£2,420 per m²)
Approval route: Planning permission is needed: permitted development side extensions in Northern Ireland can't be more than 4 m high, which rules out two storeys.
Nearest towns: Newtownards (3.7 miles), Dundonald (3.7 miles), Castlereagh (5.9 miles)
Distance to Bangor (County Down): about 8.3 miles
First visit: Free, no obligation

About a two-storey side extension

A two-storey side extension suits a detached or semi-detached house with a side garden, driveway or garage wide enough to build on. You get a design that sits comfortably on the street, a planning application or permitted development check depending on your nation, structural design, building regulations approval and the build itself. We manage the whole process, and the work is carried out by vetted teams working under S&K.

We cover postcode district BT23 in and around Comber, along with neighbouring Newtownards, Dundonald and Castlereagh.

What it costs in Comber

A guide price for Comber: around £76,000–£101,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). That works out at £1,800–£2,420 per m² of new floor space, including VAT at 20%. Professional fees for drawings and the structural engineer are listed separately on our prices page.

Spec	Per m²	A 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space)
Essential	£1,660–£2,230 per m²	£69,500–£93,500
Standard	£1,800–£2,420 per m²	£76,000–£101,500
Premium	£2,160–£2,900 per m²	£91,000–£122,000

Planning and building control in Comber

In Northern Ireland, permitted development for two-storey work is set out for rear extensions, so a two-storey side extension normally needs a planning application. The fee is £347 per dwelling, and councils aim for an average of 15 weeks on local applications. You also need building control approval from the council under the Technical Booklets.

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 Comber homes

Matching the ridge and roof

A hipped house usually needs a hipped extension roof, and a gabled house a gable. Matching the pitch, tiles, ridge detail and brick bond is what makes a side extension look original rather than added, and councils look closely at it on a front-facing addition.

Side windows, boundaries and gutters

Upstairs windows in the side wall face the neighbour, so they are usually obscure-glazed and fixed, or left out. Building close to the boundary also raises questions about foundations, overhanging gutters and access for maintenance, so we design the eaves and gutter to stay within your land.

How we'd run your project

Start at your house
We come to your home in Comber, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Design and approvals
We draw the extension and check it against the rules for Northern Ireland, then apply for planning permission or a certificate of lawfulness, whichever fits.
Technical design
We prepare the building regulations drawings, structural calculations and specification so the build price can be fixed.
Build and hand over
We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.

Questions about two-storey side extensions in Comber

Who handles building control for a project in Comber?

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.

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Comber?

Comber is in Northern Ireland. Planning permission is needed: permitted development side extensions in Northern Ireland can't be more than 4 m high, which rules out two storeys.

How long does a two-storey side 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.

How much does a two-storey side extension cost in Comber?

Our guide for Northern Ireland, which covers Comber, is £1,800–£2,420 per m² including VAT. A typical project with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) comes to about £76,000–£101,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Can I build a two-storey side extension over my driveway?

Yes, if the drive is wide enough for a useful room and the council accepts the design. You may lose off-road parking, which some councils weigh up, and the foundations need to suit the ground below. We check parking, drains and meter positions at the free site visit before any drawings are prepared.

Nearby

We also cover places near Comber, including:

Other extensions in Comber

All two-storey extension services in Comber · Two-storey side extensions across County Down

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