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 West Sussex?
In West Sussex, a porch typically costs £7,250–£18,000 from a 3 m² porch to a small front extension, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). We start from a UK-wide guide and adjust it for the South East, where labour and materials are typically about 12% above average. Design, structural calculations and council fees are extra.
| Size or type | Guide range |
|---|---|
| From a 3 m² porch to a small front extension | £7,250–£18,000 |
| Higher specification | £18,000–£22,500 |
Your quote will depend mainly on:
- Front door specification
- Moving meters, drains or the doorbell and lighting
- Size and roof style
- Whether building regulations apply
Use the guide price tool to see how size and specification change the figure, then ask for a written, itemised quote.
Do you need planning permission for a porch in West Sussex?
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
- Plastering and decoration
- Front door and windows
- Foundations and brickwork
- Electrics for lighting
- Design to match the house
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 West Sussex
The South East has a broad mix of housing, from Victorian terraces in the towns to post-war semis and newer estates, so extension types vary street by street.
Towns we cover in West Sussex include Crawley, Worthing, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Horsham and Haywards Heath.
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 in place
We handle planning, building control and neighbour notices before work starts.
- 04
Build and sign-off
We run the build to a written programme and hand over the completion certificate.
Questions about porches in West Sussex
Do you build porches in West Sussex?
Yes. We build porches across West Sussex, including postcodes BN11, BN12, BN13, BN14 and BN15. Every project starts with a free home visit.
How much does a porch cost in West Sussex?
In West Sussex, a porch typically costs £7,250–£18,000 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.
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 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.