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 Dorset?
In Dorset, a porch typically costs £6,750–£16,500 from a 3 m² porch to a small front extension, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). Building costs in the South West are close to the UK average, so the figures for Dorset are close to our national guide. Design, structural calculations and council fees are extra.
| Size or type | Guide range |
|---|---|
| From a 3 m² porch to a small front extension | £6,750–£16,500 |
| Higher specification | £16,500–£20,500 |
The main things that change the cost:
- Moving meters, drains or the doorbell and lighting
- Brick matching
- Whether building regulations apply
- 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 Dorset?
Before anything is built in Dorset, we confirm which approvals apply 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.
Building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control service or a registered building control approver. The work is inspected at key stages, such as foundations, drainage and insulation, and a completion certificate is issued at the end.
If the answer is not clear-cut, we can apply for formal confirmation before you commit to the build.
What we handle
On a typical porch we handle:
- Front door and windows
- Foundations and brickwork
- Design to match the house
- Electrics for lighting
- Plastering and decoration
- Roof and guttering
How long does it take?
Expect 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 Dorset
The South West mixes stone and render cottages with post-war and newer estates, and local materials matter more here when matching an extension.
Towns we cover in Dorset include Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth and Christchurch.
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 sign-off
We run the build to a written programme and hand over the completion certificate.
Questions about porches in Dorset
How much does a porch cost in Dorset?
In Dorset, a porch typically costs £6,750–£16,500 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.
Do you build porches in Dorset?
Yes. We build porches across Dorset, including postcodes BA22, BH1, BH10, BH11 and BH12. Every project starts with a free home visit.
Will it match my house?
We source matching bricks and tiles where possible, or suggest a deliberate contrast.
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.