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 Durham?
In Durham, a porch typically costs £5,750–£14,500 from a 3 m² porch to a small front extension, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). The guide for Durham reflects typical costs in the North East, roughly 10% 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 | £5,750–£14,500 |
| Higher specification | £14,500–£18,000 |
What moves the price most:
- Moving meters, drains or the doorbell and lighting
- Brick matching
- Front door specification
- Whether building regulations apply
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 Durham?
Before anything is built in Durham, 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.
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.
At the survey we check your house’s planning history and any restrictions, and tell you which route applies.
What we handle
Handled as part of most porches:
- Electrics for lighting
- Foundations and brickwork
- Front door and windows
- Roof and guttering
- Design to match the house
- Plastering and decoration
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 Durham
Across the North East, colliery-era terraces and newer estates sit side by side, so the right project depends on the house type.
From DH1 outwards, we take on projects throughout Durham and the surrounding parts of County Durham.
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 Durham
How much does a porch cost in Durham?
In Durham, a porch typically costs £5,750–£14,500 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.
Will it match my house?
We source matching bricks and tiles where possible, or suggest a deliberate contrast.
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 long does a porch take in Durham?
Typically 2 to 4 weeks on site. Design and approvals beforehand usually take 6 to 12 weeks.
Can I have a toilet in my porch?
A downstairs toilet usually needs a larger front extension, a drainage connection and building regulations approval.