County Armagh · Northern Ireland

Two-storey side extensions in County Armagh

County Armagh has a wide mix of house types, and most can take a well-designed two-storey side extension. Here's what's involved, the rules in Northern Ireland and typical costs.

County Armagh at a glance

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

What a two-storey side extension involves

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.

Across County Armagh we cover Craigavon (BT64), Portadown (BT62), Armagh (BT61), Moira (BT67), Keady (BT60) and Tandragee (BT63), plus the smaller places around them.

Guide price in Northern Ireland

Using our Northern Ireland rates, a two-storey side extension with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space) comes to about £76,000–£101,500, including VAT. Bigger or more glazed designs cost more per m². These are guides, not quotes. Ground conditions, steelwork and access can move the figure either way.

SpecPer m²Typical project
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

Rules in Northern Ireland

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.

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

Set-down and set-back

Councils usually want a two-storey side extension to look subordinate to the house. Setting the front wall back from the main front and dropping the ridge slightly below the main roof helps it read as an addition, and is often expected in local design guidance.

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.

How we work in County Armagh

  1. Look at the house

    We start in County Armagh with a free visit: measurements, photos, a look at the loft and drains, and a frank chat about budget.

  2. Get it approved

    Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for County Armagh and deal with any questions from the planning officer.

  3. Structure and building control

    A structural engineer sizes the foundations and steels, and we get building regulations approval before work starts.

  4. Build and hand over

    We manage the build from groundworks to decoration-ready finish and hand over with the completion paperwork.

Towns we cover in County Armagh

Two-storey side extensions in County Armagh: questions

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

In Northern Ireland our guide is £1,800–£2,420 per m² including VAT, so about £76,000–£101,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). Essential and Premium specs move that by roughly 8% down or 20% up.

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.

Will I need planning permission in County Armagh?

County Armagh 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.

Neighbouring areas

All extension services in County Armagh · About two-storey side extensions

Ready to see what a second storey could do for your home?

Book a free site visit. We'll look at your house, talk through options and explain the approvals you'd need, then price the design stage in writing.

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