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 Atherton?
In Atherton, a porch typically costs £6,000–£15,000 from a 3 m² porch to a small front extension, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). Building costs in the North West run about 6% below the UK average, and the figures for Atherton are adjusted to reflect that. 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 biggest cost drivers are:
- Front door specification
- Moving meters, drains or the doorbell and lighting
- Brick matching
- Size and roof style
For a figure based on your own measurements, try the guide price tool, then book a free home visit for a fixed quote.
Do you need planning permission for a porch in Atherton?
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.
Our first visit includes a check of your planning history, so you know the route before paying for drawings.
What we handle
What we take care of:
- Roof and guttering
- Front door and windows
- Electrics for lighting
- Design to match the house
- Plastering and decoration
- Foundations and brickwork
How long does it take?
The build itself usually takes 2 to 4 weeks on site. Before that, surveys, drawings and approvals usually take 6 to 12 weeks, longer if the council asks for changes.
Building in Atherton
The North West has many brick terraces and inter-war semis, where kitchen extensions and dormer loft conversions add space without moving.
If your home is in Atherton or close by in Tyldesley, Westhoughton and Leigh, a free home visit is the first step.
How it works
- 01
Survey and brief
We visit, discuss your ideas and budget, and survey the property or site at no cost.
- 02
Design and fixed quote
Drawings, structural calculations and an itemised, fixed price for the agreed specification.
- 03
Permissions sorted
Applications, building control and neighbour arrangements, all before the start date.
- 04
Construction and completion
We build, put right any snags and hand over the building control certificate.
Questions about porches in Atherton
Can I have a toilet in my porch?
A downstairs toilet usually needs a larger front extension, a drainage connection and building regulations approval.
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.
Who approves a porch in Atherton?
Planning matters in Atherton go to the council covering your address, and the work needs building control approval. We prepare and submit the applications for you.
How much does a porch cost in Atherton?
In Atherton, 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.
How long does it take?
Usually 2 to 4 weeks on site.