Two-storey side extensions in Greenisland

The basics for Greenisland at a glance.

Postcode districts: BT37
County / area: County Antrim, 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: Jordanstown (1.6 miles), Carrickfergus (2.9 miles), Newtownabbey (3.1 miles)
Distance to Belfast: about 7.5 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.

Greenisland sits about 7.5 miles from Belfast. Closer to home, Jordanstown is 1.6 miles away and Carrickfergus 2.9 miles.

What it costs in Greenisland

Expect a two-storey side extension in Greenisland to land somewhere around £76,000–£101,500 for a 3 m × 7 m footprint on two floors (42 m² of new floor space). Our Northern Ireland guide rate is £1,800–£2,420 per m², including VAT. Kitchens, bathroom fittings and flooring are priced separately so you can compare like with like.

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 Greenisland

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 Greenisland homes

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.

Avoiding a terracing effect

Where semi-detached houses sit close together, side extensions on neighbouring houses can join up and turn a row of pairs into a terrace. Many councils ask for a gap to the boundary at first floor to stop this, so we check local guidance before fixing the width.

How we'd run your project

Measure and listen
A visit to Greenisland to understand how you live in the house now and what the extra rooms need to do, plus a first look at the structure.
Get it approved
Once you're happy with the design we submit it to the council for Greenisland and deal with any questions from the planning officer.
Price it properly
Once the engineer's calculations are in, we fix the build price in writing, with a clear list of what's included.
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 Greenisland

Which postcodes do you cover around Greenisland?

We cover Greenisland (BT37) and nearby places including Jordanstown, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey, plus the rest of County Antrim. The first site visit is free.

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.

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

Greenisland 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 much does a two-storey side extension cost in Greenisland?

Our guide for Northern Ireland, which covers Greenisland, 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

Close to Greenisland? We work across the area, including:

Other extensions in Greenisland

All two-storey extension services in Greenisland · Two-storey side extensions across County Antrim

Ready to talk it through? Call us or send the form and we'll arrange a visit to your home in Greenisland.