Porch additions: ideas, styles and planning rules

Why add a porch?

A porch is a small project that makes a big difference. It improves kerb appeal, gives you somewhere sheltered to find your keys or take a delivery, and creates a draught lobby that helps keep heat in, particularly useful on older homes with a front door opening straight into a hallway.

Does a porch need planning permission?

Many porches can be built under permitted development. In England, a porch is generally permitted development if:

• the ground floor area (measured externally) does not exceed 3m²;
• no part is more than 3m above ground level; and
• no part is within 2m of a boundary that fronts a highway.

These limits apply to houses in England, not flats, and can be removed in conservation areas, on listed buildings or where permitted development rights have been withdrawn. We will confirm the right route for your property before any work begins.

Porch styles

• Canopy porch: a budget-friendly open canopy over the door; adding side panels later means allowing for a damp-proof course.
• Recessed porch: ideal for Victorian and 1930s homes with a recessed entrance, the design should echo the original detailing.
• Fully enclosed porch: a small room in its own right, needing foundations, damp-proofing where it meets the house wall, and careful thought about where the doors sit and which materials match the existing house.

Getting the design right

Whatever the style, a porch should look like it has always been there. We will design one that complements the proportions and materials of your home, and handle any planning or building regulations that apply.