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 Dunstable?
In Dunstable, a porch typically costs £7,000–£17,000 from a 3 m² porch to a small front extension, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). That range is adjusted for the East of England, where domestic building work typically costs around 6% above the national average. Design, structural calculations and council fees are extra.
| Size or type | Guide range |
|---|---|
| From a 3 m² porch to a small front extension | £7,000–£17,000 |
| Higher specification | £17,000–£21,000 |
What moves the price most:
- Brick matching
- Moving meters, drains or the doorbell and lighting
- Size and roof style
- Whether building regulations apply
A guide range is only a starting point: the guide price tool gives an instant figure for your size, and a free survey turns it into a fixed quote.
Do you need planning permission for a porch in Dunstable?
Approvals for a porch in Dunstable follow the rules for 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
The work we manage on a porch:
- Front door and windows
- Plastering and decoration
- Foundations and brickwork
- Electrics for lighting
- Roof and guttering
- Design to match the house
How long does it take?
Allow 2 to 4 weeks on site. Design and approvals come first and typically take 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the approval route.
Building in Dunstable
Across the East of England, 1930s and post-war semis, newer estates and rural cottages all feature, each with different extension and loft options.
Dunstable sits in Bedfordshire, about 15 miles south-east of Milton Keynes. We cover the whole of Dunstable, including postcodes LU6.
How it works
- 01
Visit and measured survey
A free visit to understand the project, check access and take measurements.
- 02
Drawings and written quote
We prepare the design and give you a written, itemised quote with inclusions and exclusions.
- 03
Approvals in place
We handle planning, building control and neighbour notices before work starts.
- 04
Construction and completion
We build, put right any snags and hand over the building control certificate.
Questions about porches in Dunstable
Do I need planning permission for a porch?
In England a porch is permitted development if its ground floor area is no more than 3 square metres, no part is higher than 3 metres and it is at least 2 metres from any boundary next to a road. Larger porches need an application.
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.
How much does a porch cost in Dunstable?
In Dunstable, a porch typically costs £7,000–£17,000 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.
Do you build porches in Dunstable?
Yes. We build porches across Dunstable, including postcodes LU6. Every project starts with a free home visit.
Can I have a toilet in my porch?
A downstairs toilet usually needs a larger front extension, a drainage connection and building regulations approval.