Belfast, County Antrim
Side return extension in Belfast
For homes in Belfast, a side return extension is often the simplest way to gain space without moving. Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. We take it from survey to completion certificate.
Belfast is covered from our County Antrim round, including BT3, BT5, BT7 and BT9. In Belfast we check the boundary line and the neighbour's gutter before drawing a side return, because a few centimetres decide whether the wall goes on or beside the boundary.
Book a free site visit
Tell us about the house and we'll call to arrange a free, no-obligation visit.
How much does a side return extension cost in Belfast?
Guide prices for a side return extension in Belfast start from our Northern Ireland rate of £2,000–£3,310 per square metre, including VAT. Northern Ireland prices are the lowest in our range.
| Size | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| 2 m wide × 6 m deep (12 m²) | £24,000–£39,500 |
| 2.5 m wide × 7 m deep (17.5 m²) | £35,000–£58,000 |
We put a fixed price in writing once the design is agreed, and explain any provisional sums such as foundations.
Do you need planning permission for a side return extension in Belfast?
The planning route for a side return extension in Belfast is set by Northern Ireland's householder rules and your council.
In Northern Ireland side extensions that face a road, or go beyond permitted development limits, need planning permission from the council, and most wraparounds go through a planning application.
Northern Ireland has no Party Wall Act. Shared-wall work relies on agreement with your neighbour and the general law, so we put access and protection arrangements in writing before starting.
Conservation areas, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and listed buildings restrict permitted development in Northern Ireland. Before any drawing we look up the property's history with the council, because earlier extensions and removed rights change the answer.
What are homes in Belfast like to extend?
Belfast has terraces near the centre, semis on the edges and many detached houses and bungalows in the surrounding countryside, where plots are often generous.
How a side return extension in Belfast comes together
Survey visit
We visit free of charge, measure up, check access, drainage and neighbours' extensions, and note what you want the room to do.
Options and costs
We draw layout options and price each one, so the budget shapes the design rather than surprising you later.
Planning and regulations
We take the design through the right planning route, then produce the construction drawings and engineer's calculations for council building control.
Fixed price and build
A written price for the agreed design, a start date and a named contact through the build, ending with the building control completion certificate.
Side return extensions near Belfast
From Belfast, the nearest places we also cover are Castlereagh (2.3 miles) and Newtownabbey (4.4 miles).
- Side return extension in Castlereagh
- Side return extension in Newtownabbey
- Side return extension in Holywood
- Side return extension in Dundonald
- Side return extension in Lisburn
Other work in Belfast:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Belfast
Do I need a party wall agreement?
Northern Ireland has no Party Wall Act; we agree any shared-wall work with your neighbour in writing.
How long does a rear extension take to build in Belfast?
Most single-storey rear extensions take 10 to 16 weeks on site and two-storey extensions 16 to 26 weeks, after design and approvals.
Can I combine a side return with a rear extension?
Yes; that is a wraparound extension, and it gives the biggest open-plan room a terrace can have.
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Belfast?
Often not for a single-storey rear extension of up to 3 metres (4 metres detached) under Northern Ireland's permitted development rules, outside conservation areas.
Do you handle building control in Belfast?
Yes. We apply to the council's building control team and hand over the completion certificate.
Can I live at home while the extension is built?
Usually yes. Most of the work is outside until the back wall is opened near the end, and that stage is screened off.