Covering Dorchester
Alongside Dorchester, we also cover Weymouth (7 miles to the south), Bridport and Yeovil.
Homes in the South West
In the South West, matching local stone, render or slate is often the main design question, and conservation areas and listed buildings are common in historic towns.
What is included in a porch in Dorchester?
We build porches in matching brick with a tiled or lead roof, a new composite or timber door, and lighting. If you want a wider entrance or a WC, we can design a larger front extension instead and handle the planning.
- Design to match the house
- Foundations and matching brickwork
- Lighting and power
How much does a porch cost in Dorchester?
Use these ranges to budget for porches; the survey turns them into a fixed price for the agreed specification.
| Porches | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Open canopy over the door | £2,500 to £5,000 |
| Brick porch with tiled roof | £6,000 to £10,000 |
| Larger porch or front extension | £10,000 to £16,000 |
Do you need permission for a porch in Dorchester?
Projects in England go through two separate checks. Planning (or confirmation that the work is permitted development) comes from the district, borough or unitary council, and building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Where work touches a shared wall or digs near a neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies.
In England a porch is permitted development if its footprint is no more than 3 m² measured externally, no part is higher than 3 m, and no part is within 2 m of a boundary with a road or footpath.
What should Dorchester homeowners check first?
- Keeping the original front door between house and porch can keep a porch exempt from building regulations.
- The roof pitch should echo the main roof or bay window.
What happens after I enquire?
- Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
- We visit and measure. A surveyor checks the house, the boundaries and the ground, and discusses what is realistic.
- Design and fixed price. You get drawings and a written price for the agreed specification before anything is ordered.
- We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.
Questions about a porch in Dorchester
Do I need planning permission for a porch?
Not in England if it is no bigger than 3 m², no higher than 3 m and at least 2 m from the boundary with a road.
How long does it take?
One to three weeks on site.
Who deals with the council for a project in Dorchester?
We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.
Other towns nearby
Learn more about porches, or see every project we cover in Dorchester.