What is a porch?

A porch is a small extension built around the front door, giving a lobby for coats and shoes and stopping draughts reaching the hall. Most are brick with a pitched tiled roof to match the house, though glazed and timber porches are also common.
How much does a porch cost in Ashton-under-Lyne?
In Ashton-under-Lyne, a porch typically costs £6,000–£15,000 from a 3 m² porch to a small front extension, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). The guide for Ashton-under-Lyne reflects typical costs in the North West, roughly 6% below the UK-wide figure. Design, structural calculations and council fees are extra.
| Size or type | Guide range |
|---|---|
| From a 3 m² porch to a small front extension | £6,000–£15,000 |
| Higher specification | £15,000–£19,000 |
The main things that change the cost:
- Brick matching
- Whether building regulations apply
- Front door specification
- Size and roof style
Your exact price depends on the survey and drawings. The guide price tool gives a quick range in the meantime.
Do you need planning permission for a porch in Ashton-under-Lyne?
Whether you need planning permission depends on your house and its location in England. In England a porch is permitted development if its ground floor area is no more than 3 square metres, no part is over 3 metres high and it is at least 2 metres from a boundary next to a road.
Where work involves a shared wall, building on the boundary, or digging foundations within 3 metres of a neighbour’s building and deeper than its foundations (or within 6 metres for deeper work), the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notices must be served before work starts.
We check this for your address before design work starts, so there are no surprises later.
What we handle
Handled as part of most porches:
- Front door and windows
- Electrics for lighting
- Plastering and decoration
- Foundations and brickwork
- Design to match the house
- Roof and guttering
How long does it take?
Allow 2 to 4 weeks on site. Allow time beforehand for drawings and approvals, usually 6 to 12 weeks.
Building in Ashton-under-Lyne
The North West has many brick terraces and inter-war semis, where kitchen extensions and dormer loft conversions add space without moving.
Our Ashton-under-Lyne coverage includes postcode districts OL7, and we also work in nearby places such as Dukinfield, Stalybridge and Droylsden.
How it works
- 01
Survey and brief
We visit, discuss your ideas and budget, and survey the property or site at no cost.
- 02
Drawings and written quote
We prepare the design and give you a written, itemised quote with inclusions and exclusions.
- 03
Approvals
Planning or permitted development confirmation, building regulations and any party wall matters.
- 04
Build and handover
Work follows the agreed programme, with inspections along the way and a completion certificate at the end.
Questions about porches in Ashton-under-Lyne
How long does it take?
Usually 2 to 4 weeks on site.
Who approves a porch in Ashton-under-Lyne?
Planning matters in Ashton-under-Lyne go to the council covering your address, and the work needs building control approval. We prepare and submit the applications for you.
Does a porch need building regulations?
In England and Wales a ground-level porch under 30 square metres is usually exempt if the front door stays in place and the glazing meets safety standards. In Scotland the exemption is much smaller (around 8 square metres, with no new opening into the house). If the front door is removed, approval is needed. We check this for your design.
How much does a porch cost in Ashton-under-Lyne?
In Ashton-under-Lyne, a porch typically costs £6,000–£15,000 from a 3 m² porch to a small front extension, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). Your fixed price depends on the survey and drawings.
Can you move the gas or electric meter?
Meters belong to the supplier or network operator. We coordinate their move as part of the job, which can add time.
