Homes in County Down
County Down takes in suburbs of Belfast, Bangor and Holywood with Victorian and Edwardian villas, and Newry, Downpatrick and Banbridge with older town centres and newer estates. Mourne granite appears in buildings around the mountains, and detached rural homes and bungalows are common across the county, often rendered or pebbledashed.
Villas and semis suit kitchen extensions, loft conversions and garden landscaping. Rural detached homes commonly take extensions and driveways, and rendered houses often need re-rendering, roofline renewal and window replacement.
Coastal areas such as the Ards Peninsula face salt and wind, and the Mournes bring heavier rain and colder conditions.
Planning and building rules in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, councils decide planning applications, and building control approval is given under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland). Road consents, such as a dropped kerb, come from DfI Roads.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission in County Down?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. County Down is in Northern Ireland, so Northern Ireland's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Is the price fixed?
Yes, for the specification we agree. Your written quote sets out exactly what is included at a fixed price. It only changes if you ask for something different, or if a problem the survey could not reasonably reveal later needs extra work. In either case we explain the change and confirm it in writing before going ahead.
Who do I deal with during the job?
One point of contact manages your project from survey to handover. They schedule the trades working under our contract, keep you updated on progress, and are the person to call with any question. You don't need to coordinate builders, electricians or decorators separately, because that is part of what we do.
Can you combine your project with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan your project alongside other work on your County Down home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.