From Plans to Keys: NI Build Timelines

Published 16 Jun 2025

From Plans to Keys: How Long It Really Takes to Build a Home in Northern Ireland

Building your dream home is one of the most exciting projects you’ll ever take on, but if you’re planning to build in Northern Ireland, you’ll want to come prepared with one very important thing, patience.

So, how long does it actually take to go from the first bit of paperwork to walking through your own front door? In most cases, you’re looking at anywhere from 14 months to two years, depending on where you’re building, how efficient your local council is and whether any surprises pop up along the way (spoiler: they usually do).

Let’s break it down.
 

Planning Permission: Where Most Timelines Stall

Before you even think about breaking ground, you’ll need planning permission and this is often the part that catches people off guard.

Local applications currently take an average of 20.8 weeks to process. That’s nearly six months, well over the 15-week target councils are aiming for.

Major applications (think housing developments or bigger builds) are even slower, averaging around 46.5 weeks.

And that’s just approval. If your application is missing anything or runs into objections, things can drag out even longer.

Top tip? Check your local council’s performance, some are much quicker than others. Mid & East Antrim, for example, tends to meet targets more consistently than others.

From Foundations to Finish: The Build Stage

Once your plans are approved and building control is on board, you can finally start the fun (and messy) part, construction.

A standard home build typically takes 7 to 12 months, depending on the complexity of your design, the weather (NI winters aren’t exactly helpful) and how efficient your builder is.

A few things that commonly slow things down at this stage:

• Wet weather making groundwork a nightmare
• Material or labour shortages
• Delays getting inspections signed off
• Last-minute changes to the spec

If you’re looking to move in quicker, you could explore modular or prefabricated builds, which can save a lot of time on site.

Infrastructure Woes: The Unexpected Hold-Up

Here’s something not everyone thinks about, utilities and infrastructure. Your home might be finished, but you can’t move in until it’s connected to power, water, broadband and sewage systems.

And right now, that last one, sewage, is a big issue.

Over 19,000 homes across NI are facing delays because the local sewage infrastructure can’t cope with new connections. Even if everything else is done, your home could sit empty for months while waiting for a hook-up.

Moral of the story? Talk to NI Water early, especially if you’re building in a rural area.

Location, Location… Local Council?

Where you build matters more than you might think. Each of Northern Ireland’s 11 councils handles planning applications at its own pace.

• Some are hitting their targets. Others… not so much.
• Only four councils met the 15-week target for local applications in a recent quarter.
• Just two councils hit the 30-week target for major applications.

If you’re flexible about location, it’s worth checking recent performance data to avoid building in a bottleneck.

Tips to Keep Your Build on Track

Want to speed things up (or at least avoid unnecessary delays)? Here are a few tips:

• Submit a full and well-prepared planning application. Sloppy submissions = longer delays.
• Engage with building control early to avoid inspection issues later on.
• Plan ahead for utilities, especially sewage and broadband.
• Choose a builder with a track record, not just the lowest quote.

Expect delays, and build in buffer time, it’ll save your sanity.

The Bottom Line

From paperwork to keys, building a home in Northern Ireland is rarely quick, but if you go in with a realistic timeline and do your homework, it’s absolutely doable.

Expect at least 14–18 months for most builds, with some taking closer to two years depending on permissions, weather and infrastructure.

The good news? Once it’s all done, there’s nothing quite like walking into a home you built from scratch.

Disclaimer:

The timelines and durations mentioned in this article are based on publicly available data from Northern Ireland council planning portals and government sources as of 2025. Actual timelines may vary depending on location, application complexity, seasonal factors and third-party providers. All information is provided for general guidance only and is subject to change. 

PropertyPal accepts no liability for delays or outcomes resulting from individual planning or construction processes.