Covering Holywood
Our coverage around Holywood (BT18) also includes Newtownabbey, Belfast and Carrickfergus.
Homes in County Down
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 house renovation?
We survey the house to find what really needs doing, from damp and roof condition to wiring age, then programme the work so the messy trades (structure, first-fix, plaster) happen before the finishing trades. A single contract avoids the gaps that appear when separate trades are booked independently.
- Planning and building control applications to the council
- Insulation and energy upgrades
- Plastering, joinery, kitchen and bathrooms
How much should I budget for a house renovation?
Guide prices for house renovations, including VAT where it applies. Your fixed price is confirmed in writing after the survey.
| House renovations | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Light refurbishment | £600 to £1,000 per m² |
| Full renovation | £1,000 to £1,800 per m² |
| Structural renovation and remodel | £1,800 to £2,800 per m² |
How is a house renovation approved in Holywood?
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.
Internal alterations rarely need planning permission in Northern Ireland, but structural work needs building control approval.
What should I think about before starting?
- Living in during a full renovation is difficult; most people move out for part of it.
- Energy upgrades are cheapest when walls and floors are already opened up.
From first call to completion
- Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
- We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
- Price and paperwork. The design is priced line by line, and we submit the planning and building control applications.
- Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.
Questions about a house renovation in Holywood
How much does it cost to renovate a house?
Roughly £600 to £2,800 per square metre including VAT, depending on how much structural work and remodelling is involved.
Can we live in the house during a renovation?
For a light refurbishment, often yes. For a full or structural renovation, most people move out for at least part of the work.
Do you work in Holywood?
Yes. Holywood is within our coverage for house renovations, along with nearby Newtownabbey and Belfast.
House renovations near Holywood
- House renovations in Newtownabbey
- House renovations in Belfast
- House renovations in Carrickfergus
- House renovations in Newtownards
Learn more about house renovations, or see every project we cover in Holywood.

