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 the Lothians?
In the Lothians, a porch typically costs £6,250–£15,500 from a 3 m² porch to a small front extension, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). Building costs in Scotland are close to the UK average, so the figures for the Lothians 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 | £6,250–£15,500 |
| Higher specification | £15,500–£19,500 |
What moves the price most:
- Size and roof style
- Moving meters, drains or the doorbell and lighting
- Front door specification
- Brick matching
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 the Lothians?
Here is how the rules work for a porch in Scotland. In Scotland a porch is permitted development if its footprint is no more than 3 square metres, it is no more than 3 metres high and more than 2 metres from a boundary with a road, outside conservation areas. A building warrant may be needed depending on the design.
Scotland has no Party Wall Act. Work on shared walls is governed by your title deeds, the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 for flats, and common law, so we agree arrangements with neighbours in writing before work starts.
We check this for your address before design work starts, so there are no surprises later.
What we handle
The work we manage on a porch:
- Design to match the house
- Plastering and decoration
- Roof and guttering
- Front door and windows
- Electrics for lighting
- Foundations and brickwork
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 the Lothians
In Scotland, bungalows and one-and-a-half-storey homes are common, so dormer conversions are a popular way to add bedrooms.
Towns we cover in the Lothians include Livingston, Musselburgh, Bathgate, Bonnyrigg, Penicuik and Broxburn.
How it works
- 01
Free visit
We look at the property, talk through what you want and measure up. There is no charge and no obligation.
- 02
Design and fixed quote
Drawings, structural calculations and an itemised, fixed price for the agreed specification.
- 03
Approvals
Planning or permitted development confirmation, building regulations and any party wall matters.
- 04
Construction and completion
We build, put right any snags and hand over the building control certificate.
Questions about porches in the Lothians
How much does a porch cost in the Lothians?
In the Lothians, a porch typically costs £6,250–£15,500 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 a porch take in the Lothians?
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.
Do I need planning permission for a porch in the Lothians?
In Scotland a porch is permitted development if its footprint is no more than 3 square metres, it is no more than 3 metres high and more than 2 metres from a boundary with a road, outside conservation areas. A building warrant may be needed depending on the design.
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.
Will it match my house?
We source matching bricks and tiles where possible, or suggest a deliberate contrast.