Newtownabbey · County Antrim

Two-storey wraparound extensions in Newtownabbey

If you live in Newtownabbey and need more room without moving, a two-storey wraparound extension is worth a serious look. We handle the drawings, approvals, structure and build.

Newtownabbey: the key facts for this kind of project.

Postcode districts
BT36
County / area
County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Price region
Northern Ireland
Guide price
£106,000–£145,500 (£1,890–£2,600 per m²)
Approval route
Planning permission is usually needed.
Nearest towns
Jordanstown (1.7 miles), Greenisland (3.1 miles), Holywood (3.7 miles)
Distance to Belfast
about 4.4 miles
First visit
Free, no obligation

About a two-storey wraparound extension

A two-storey wraparound extension is an L-shaped addition that extends both the side and the rear of your house, on two floors. It gives one of the largest gains in floor space of any extension, typically a big open-plan kitchen and living area below and two or more bedrooms or bathrooms above.

We cover postcode district BT36 in and around Newtownabbey, along with neighbouring Jordanstown, Greenisland and Holywood.

What it costs in Newtownabbey

Our guide for Northern Ireland is £1,890–£2,600 per m² including VAT. On a project with an L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space), that puts a two-storey wraparound extension in Newtownabbey at roughly £106,000–£145,500. Kitchens, bathroom fittings and flooring are priced separately so you can compare like with like.

SpecPer m²An L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space)
Essential£1,740–£2,390 per m²£97,500–£133,500
Standard£1,890–£2,600 per m²£106,000–£145,500
Premium£2,270–£3,120 per m²£127,000–£174,500

Planning and building control in Newtownabbey

In Northern Ireland, the permitted development allowance for two-storey extensions covers rear extensions of up to 3 m that stay 7 m from the rear boundary. A wraparound adds a side element on two floors, so it normally needs a planning application. The fee is £347 per dwelling, and councils aim for an average of 15 weeks for local applications.

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 Newtownabbey homes

The corner post

At the outside corner of the L, there is no existing wall to carry the floor above. Opening the ground floor fully usually means a steel frame or a corner post, and the engineer's design sets how slim it can be. We decide early whether you want a clear corner or a visible post.

Two roofs that meet

A wraparound needs the side roof and rear roof to join cleanly, often with a valley or hip where they meet. Getting pitches and ridge heights right keeps rainwater moving and avoids a bulky mass at the back corner, which neighbours and planners notice.

How we'd run your project

  1. Look at the house

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

  2. Choose the approval route

    Some designs fit permitted development, most need a householder application. We decide which applies in Northern Ireland before drawing in detail.

  3. Engineer it

    Foundations sized for two floors, steels for any openings, and building control approval, all before anyone starts on site.

  4. On site

    One project lead runs the job, keeps you updated and arranges inspections at each stage until completion.

Questions about two-storey wraparound extensions in Newtownabbey

Which postcodes do you cover around Newtownabbey?

We cover Newtownabbey (BT36) and nearby places including Jordanstown, Greenisland and Holywood, plus the rest of County Antrim. The first site visit is free.

Do I need planning permission for a two-storey wraparound extension in Newtownabbey?

Newtownabbey is in Northern Ireland. Planning permission is usually needed.

How much does a two-storey wraparound extension cost in Newtownabbey?

Our guide for Northern Ireland, which covers Newtownabbey, is £1,890–£2,600 per m² including VAT. A typical project with an L-shaped footprint of about 28 m² wrapping the side and rear, on two floors (56 m² of new floor space) comes to about £106,000–£145,500. Design and approval fees are extra, and we fix the build price in writing once the design is agreed.

Is a wraparound extension better than separate side and rear extensions?

Building both at once usually costs less than two separate projects, because you pay for one set-up, one scaffold, one roof junction and one set of approvals. It also lets the layout be designed as a whole. The trade-off is a larger single outlay and a longer build, often 16 to 24 weeks at this size.

Does a wraparound extension need steel?

Almost always. Opening the corner of the house and the old rear wall to make one open-plan space means steel beams, and often a steel post or frame at the outside corner. The structural engineer sizes these, and the steel is ordered once the design is fixed, which is one reason a wraparound needs careful sequencing.

Nearby

Nearby towns we cover for two-storey wraparound extensions:

Other extensions in Newtownabbey

All two-storey extension services in Newtownabbey · Two-storey wraparound 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 Newtownabbey.

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