Two-storey side extensions in Dundonald
If you live in Dundonald and need more room without moving, a two-storey side extension is worth a serious look. We handle the drawings, approvals, structure and build.
Before you start in Dundonald, here's what applies.
- Postcode districts
- BT16
- 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
- Holywood (3.4 miles), Comber (3.7 miles), Castlereagh (3.7 miles)
- Distance to Bangor (County Down)
- about 7 miles
- First visit
- Free, no obligation
About a two-storey side extension
A two-storey side extension is a new two-floor addition built into the space beside your house, often over a driveway or side passage. It typically adds one or two bedrooms upstairs and a utility, study or larger kitchen below, without giving up rear garden.
Dundonald sits about 7.0 miles from Bangor (County Down). Closer to home, Holywood is 3.4 miles away and Comber 3.7 miles.
What it costs in Dundonald
Guide prices for two-storey side extensions in Northern Ireland are around £1,800–£2,420 per m² of new floor space, including VAT. For a typical project with a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space), that's roughly £76,000–£101,500. Keep a contingency of around 10% for things nobody can see until the ground is opened up.
| 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 Dundonald
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 Dundonald 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.
Access and services
Side extensions often cover the only route to the back garden, a gas meter, soil pipes or a drain run. We plan bin and bike access, move meters and pipes where needed and check drains early, because these items affect both cost and layout.
How we'd run your project
Start at your house
We come to your home in Dundonald, measure up, check the ground floor walls and roof structure, and note anything near the boundaries.
Plans, then approval
Measured survey, design, then the right approval route for your house. We explain each step before we take it.
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 side extensions in Dundonald
Do I need planning permission for a two-storey side extension in Dundonald?
Dundonald 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.
Which postcodes do you cover around Dundonald?
We cover Dundonald (BT16) and nearby places including Holywood, Comber and Castlereagh, plus the rest of County Down. The first site visit is free.
How much does a two-storey side extension cost in Dundonald?
Our guide for Northern Ireland, which covers Dundonald, 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.
Who handles building control for a project in Dundonald?
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.
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
The same service in neighbouring towns:
Other extensions in Dundonald
- Rear
- Wraparound
- Part two-storey
- Over a garage
- First floor
- Semi-detached
- Detached
- Kitchen and bedrooms
- Bedroom and en-suite
All two-storey extension services in Dundonald · Two-storey side extensions across County Down
Send us your postcode and a few details. We'll get back to you to arrange a visit and talk through your options.