Covering Swanage
Swanage is about 22 miles east of Dorchester. We also cover Poole (7 miles to the north), Bournemouth and Christchurch.
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 Swanage?
A porch is a small enclosed entrance built in front of the front door, giving somewhere for coats and shoes and a buffer against draughts. Many porches are small enough to be built without a planning application.
- Foundations and matching brickwork
- Tiled, slate or lead roof
- Plastering and flooring ready finish
What is the guide price for a porch in Swanage?
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 Swanage?
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 Swanage 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 are the steps?
- Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
- Free site visit. We measure up, look at access, drains and the structure, and talk through options and budget.
- Drawings, approvals, written quote. We prepare the design, apply for the approvals it needs, and give you a fixed price in writing.
- Construction and completion. One site lead co-ordinates every trade through to the building control certificate.
Questions about a porch in Swanage
How much does a porch cost?
Most brick porches with a tiled roof cost about £6,000 to £10,000 including VAT.
Can a porch include a toilet?
Yes, but it becomes a front extension, which usually needs planning permission and building regulations approval.
Can you visit a house in Swanage to quote?
Yes. After a short call we arrange a site visit to measure up and agree what the design needs to do, then send a written price.
Also covering
Learn more about porches, or see every project we cover in Swanage.