Design, Cost & Planning
Many Dublin homeowners come to BuildTech with drawings already in hand — but no clear picture of what their project will actually cost to build. If you have plans but need cost clarity, value engineering, or a construction review, we offer a dedicated service for you.
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All enquiries are reviewed by our team before a consultation is confirmed.
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Architectural drawings show you what you want to build. They do not tell you what it will cost to build — and that gap is where most home projects in Dublin come unstuck. Homeowners receive drawings from their architect and then discover, when contractor quotes come in, that the design is 50% or 100% over their budget.
BuildTech’s Cost Planning & Construction Review gives you an honest, line-by-line cost breakdown of your existing design — identifying gaps, risks, and value engineering opportunities before you commit to construction.
Rated 5★ across Google, Houzz, and OnlineTradesmen by Dublin homeowners.
Where a design exceeds your budget, BuildTech identifies practical value engineering alternatives — changes that reduce cost without compromising the quality or functionality of the project. This might involve specification changes, structural simplifications, or phasing of the works.
At the end of the review, you have a clear picture of what your project will cost to build, what changes (if any) are needed to bring it within budget, and a structured pathway to construction if you decide to proceed with BuildTech.
BuildTech follows a clear four-step pathway, from initial feasibility through to completed construction, designed to protect your budget and keep your project on track.
If you already have architectural drawings, the worst thing you can do is go straight to tender without knowing what the build will cost. Speculative tenders take time, reveal nothing useful, and expose you to contractors who may price to win — not to deliver.
A BuildTech Cost Planning & Construction Review gives you an honest, independent assessment of your design — from a contractor who builds these projects every day in Dublin. We tell you what it will actually cost to build, and whether your design is achievable within your budget.
BuildTech manages the full planning permission process from initial feasibility through to decision. Every stage is handled internally — there are no third-party handoffs that cause delays or miscommunication.
We confirm whether your project requires planning permission or qualifies as Exempted Development. Many single-storey rear extensions in Dublin do not need planning — we establish this clearly at the outset, saving you time and fees.
Where planning is required, we develop a pre-planning strategy aligned with the relevant local authority's development policies. Where appropriate, we engage with the planning authority informally before submission to identify potential issues early and reduce the risk of refusal.
Our in-house architectural design team prepares all required drawings — site location map, site plan, floor plans, elevations, and sections — along with any supporting reports and compliance documentation. Accurate, complete documentation reduces the risk of requests for further information from the council.
We prepare and submit the full application to the relevant local authority — Dublin City Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, or South Dublin County Council. We manage all correspondence and respond to any requests for further information within the statutory timeframes.
We monitor the application through to decision — typically 8–12 weeks from submission. On receipt of planning permission, we advise on any conditions attached and prepare the project for the next stage: cost and technical design, or construction if design is already complete.
Delays and refusals in planning applications are almost always avoidable with proper preparation. The most common causes in Dublin are:
Missing drawings, incorrect scale, or absent site information trigger requests for further information — adding weeks to the process.
Designs that don't align with the local development plan — on height, scale, overlooking, or amenity — attract objections or conditions.
Submitting without checking with the planning authority first misses an opportunity to identify issues before they become formal refusal reasons.
Applying for full permission when the works are Exempted Development — or vice versa — wastes time & money. We confirm the correct route at feasibility stage.
Many home extensions and improvements in Dublin qualify as Exempted Development under the Planning and Development Regulations — meaning no planning application is required. However, exemptions are subject to specific conditions and can be lost if previous unauthorised works exist on the property.
Common Exempted Development for residential properties includes:
BuildTech confirms planning status as part of every feasibility consultation — before any design fees are committed. If your project is Exempted Development, we will tell you clearly and save you the cost of an application.
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We review your enquiry before confirming a consultation — ensuring only suitable projects proceed.
What's Included
Related Services
Not sure where to start?
A feasibility consultation (€200 call · €500 home visit) confirms your planning position before you spend anything on drawings.
BuildTech is a specialist design and build contractor. We take on a focused range of projects — and we do not progress any project without a clear, agreed budget.
The most common home project in Dublin. Open-plan kitchen and living, utility room, or additional family space — from feasibility through to a certified, compliant build.
Whole-home renovations and structural alterations for Dublin homeowners. Internal reconfigurations, layout redesign, and full refurbishment — all budget-led from day one.
€200 call or €500 home visit. We establish what is realistically achievable within your budget before any design work begins — saving you time, money, and stress.
Full application management — pre-planning strategy, drawings, submission, and decision monitoring. Many extensions are planning exempt; we confirm this first.
Cost Planning & Construction Review from €2,500 + VAT. We provide a full cost breakdown of your existing drawings — gap identification, budget alignment, and value engineering.
Measured survey, technical layout, and a detailed cost plan — all aligned to your budget before construction begins. No over-specified designs that cannot be built within your means.
Each project below started with a feasibility consultation and a clear budget. Here is what we delivered.
Extension + Renovation
Location : Dublin
Scope : Ground floor knock-through, rear extension, open-plan kitchen and living
Status : Planning exempt
✓ Delivered on time and on budget
Extension + Renovation
Scope : Full home renovation of period seafront property
Status : Planning exempt
✓ Full project management, completed on programme
Extension + Renovation
Location : Dublin 14
Scope : Single-storey rear extension and partial ground-floor renovation
Status : Planning exempt
✓ On budget, handover on schedule
Extension + Renovation
Location : Mount Merrion, South Dublin
Scope : 20 sqm flat-roof rear extension, open-plan kitchen and dining
Status : Planning exempt
✓ Completed on time and on budget
Extension + Renovation
Location : Dublin
Scope : Structural reconfiguration, split-level open-plan kitchen and lounge
Status : Planning exempt
✓ Full project management included
BuildTech reviews your existing architectural drawings and provides an honest, line-by-line cost breakdown — before you commit to any construction. From €2,500 + VAT.
No obligation. No pressure. Just honest advice.
