Covering Cookstown
Alongside Cookstown, we also cover Magherafelt, Dungannon (10 miles to the south) and Portadown.
Homes in County Tyrone
Northern Ireland has a high proportion of detached houses and bungalows outside the cities, which often suit side extensions, rear extensions and upward extensions.
What is a basement conversion?
A basement conversion turns an existing cellar into dry, usable rooms, or excavates a new basement under a house. Converting an existing cellar is far simpler and cheaper than digging a new one, and often does not need planning permission.
- Waterproofing design and installation
- Underpinning or lowering the floor where needed
- Finished floors, walls and ceilings
How much should I budget for a basement conversion?
Use these ranges to budget for basement and cellar conversions; the survey turns them into a fixed price for the agreed specification.
| Basement and cellar conversions | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Existing cellar conversion | £1,900 to £3,000 per m² |
| New basement excavation | £4,200 to £6,600 per m² |
How is a basement conversion approved in Cookstown?
In Northern Ireland the council handles both planning and building control. Permitted development rules are set by the Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015, and there is no party wall act, so we agree access and protection with neighbours in writing.
In Northern Ireland new basements and external changes normally need planning permission; building control approval is needed.
What can affect a basement conversion?
- Groundwater levels drive the waterproofing design and cost.
- Headroom of about 2.1 m or more is needed, which may mean lowering the floor.
What are the steps?
- Tell us about the project. Call, use the guide price tool or send the form with a few photos and a postcode.
- We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
- Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
- Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.
Your questions answered
Does a cellar conversion need planning permission?
Usually not if nothing changes outside. New basements and lightwells often do.
How do you keep a basement dry?
With a designed waterproofing system, usually a cavity drain membrane draining to a pump, sometimes combined with tanking.
Who deals with the council for a project in Cookstown?
We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.
Also covering
- Basement and cellar conversions in Magherafelt
- Basement and cellar conversions in Dungannon
- Basement and cellar conversions in Portadown
- Basement and cellar conversions in Craigavon
Learn more about basement and cellar conversions, or see every project we cover in Cookstown.