Planning permission for extensions in Belfast
We prepare planning permission for extensions for homes in Belfast, as a stand-alone service or as the first stage of a design and build project.
- Guide price in BelfastFrom £300 inc VAT
- PlanningWe find the right route for you
- Timescale8–13 weeks typical decision period
- Postcode districtsBT1, BT2, BT6, BT7, BT12
Included in a typical project
- Liaison with the planning officer
- Submission and fee payment guidance
- Planning history and constraints check for your address
- Application forms, plans and supporting statements
- Advice if conditions are attached or changes are requested
- Route recommendation in writing
Design and approval fees for Belfast
Fees below are our Belfast guide (×0.86, the Northern Ireland factor), including VAT. Council and building control fees are extra.
| Option | What it covers | Guide price |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Permitted development confirmed in writing (certificate or notification) | £300 – £600 |
| Standard | Householder planning application handled | £500 – £950 |
| Premium | Application with heritage or design statements, and responses to the council | £750 – £1,400 |
Our handling fee only. Council fees are extra and are set by the Northern Ireland Executive. Drawings are priced separately.
Want a range for your exact size? The guide-price tool takes about a minute.
Working in Belfast
Postcode districts we cover around Belfast include BT1, BT2, BT6, BT7, BT12, BT13. Neighbouring towns we cover include Castlereagh (2 miles), Newtownabbey (4 miles), Lisburn (7 miles), Carrickfergus (10 miles).
For homes towards County Down, Newtownards is around 9 miles away. Northern Ireland's housing ranges from city terraces to large numbers of detached houses and bungalows on rural plots, many in render, where single-storey extensions fit easily.
Planning rules that apply in Belfast
In Northern Ireland we check the permitted development limits for your house type and, where needed, apply to your council for planning permission, then submit full plans or a building notice to council building control.
Before any drawing is finalised we check whether the house is listed, in a conservation area or subject to an Article 4 direction.
Northern Ireland has no Party Wall Act. Where work is on or close to a shared boundary, we agree access and protection with your neighbour in writing before work starts.
In Northern Ireland building control is run by the councils under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland). We submit full plans or a building notice and book the inspections through to completion.
Applications are decided by your council, which handles local planning in Northern Ireland.
Our process, step by step
Site visits are free and there is no obligation. Where drawings are needed, the design stage is priced in writing before it starts.
Free site visit
First, a site visit: we look at the house, garden, access and drains and listen to what you need.
Design and approvals
Drawings are prepared and agreed with you, then submitted for the right planning route and building regulations approval.
Fixed written price
With the design and specification agreed, you get a fixed written price and a start date.
Build and sign-off
Work is carried out to the agreed programme, inspected by building control and signed off at the end.
Questions answered
Do I need building regulations approval in Belfast?
Yes. Almost every extension needs it, whatever the planning route. We prepare the drawings and book the inspections.
How long does this take for a Belfast home?
8–13 weeks typical decision period, depending on the council and the complexity of the project.
Can I see a price before committing to anything?
Yes. The guide prices on this page are adjusted for Belfast, and the guide-price tool gives a range for your own size. After the survey you get a written price before anything is agreed.
What happens if planning is refused?
You can revise the design and reapply, or appeal. We read the officer’s report and tell you honestly which option has a better chance.
Book a free site visit in Belfast
We will measure up, check the planning position and give you honest guide figures.
- Free, no-obligation site visit
- Planning route checked before you spend on drawings
- Written price once the design is agreed
- Building control sign-off at the end
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 088 6341 or .
Book a free site visit
Tell us a little about the project and we will arrange a time.