Newtownabbey, County Antrim
Side return extension in Newtownabbey
Infilling the narrow passage beside a Victorian or Edwardian back addition. We design, get the approvals for and build side return extensions in Newtownabbey and the surrounding area, with one contract from the first survey to building control sign-off.
Newtownabbey is covered from our County Antrim round, including BT36 and BT37. In Newtownabbey 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 Newtownabbey?
For Newtownabbey we work from the Northern Ireland rate: £2,000–£3,310 per square metre of new floor, including VAT, standard specification. 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 Newtownabbey?
The planning route for a side return extension in Newtownabbey is set by Northern Ireland's householder rules and your council.
Northern Ireland's rules restrict side extensions more than rear ones, so a side infill or wraparound usually needs a planning application to the council as well as building control approval.
There is no Party Wall Act in Northern Ireland; we agree any work affecting a shared wall or boundary directly with the neighbour, in writing.
Conservation areas, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and listed buildings restrict permitted development in Northern Ireland. We check your house's planning history and any conservation area before drawing, so the route is clear before you spend on plans.
What are homes in Newtownabbey like to extend?
Semis and detached houses are typical of Newtownabbey, and many have room for a rear extension within Northern Ireland's permitted development limits.
How a side return extension in Newtownabbey comes together
Look round and measure
A free visit to see the back of the house, measure it, check the drains and boundaries and hear what you need.
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 Newtownabbey
From Newtownabbey, the nearest places we also cover are Holywood (3.7 miles) and Belfast (4.4 miles).
- Side return extension in Holywood
- Side return extension in Belfast
- Side return extension in Carrickfergus
- Side return extension in Castlereagh
- Side return extension in Dundonald
Other work in Newtownabbey:
FAQ
Side return extension questions in Newtownabbey
Do you handle building control in Newtownabbey?
Yes. We apply to the council's building control team and hand over the completion certificate.
Do I need planning permission for a rear extension in Newtownabbey?
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.
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.
Is the site visit in Newtownabbey free?
Yes. We visit, measure up and talk through the options with no cost and no obligation.
Will I need a structural engineer?
Yes for the beam over the new opening and usually the foundations; we arrange them and their calculations go to building control.
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.