Porch

Benefits

Enhanced security
Enhanced kerb appeal
Can increase the value of your home

Key Points

When planning a porch, there a 3 factors to consider:-

The ground floor area of the proposed porch
Its height
Distance from and boundary and highway

Provided the structure would not exceed 3 square metres (when measured externally), would be no higher than 3 metres and would be located no closer than 2 metres from any boundary and highway, then planning permission would not be required. If you live in a Listed Building, you will require to apply for Listed Building Consent.

In certain circumstances however, your "porch" may be of a size where it is not considered a "porch" structure anymore (within the meaning of the amended General Permitted Development Order 2008) but an extension in its own right by virtue of its size for example. Normally, if you do not meet the criteria set out within the Order, you would require planning permission. However, if you chose to add a porch to the side of your property for example, provided you met the relevant criteria (see:- I want a side extension), your proposal may well be considered as permitted development which means you would not require planning permission.

Porch

Do I Need Planning Permission?

For a porch, you will need to apply for planning permission if:

The ground floor area (when measured externally) would exceed 3 square metres.
Any part of the porch would be more than 3 metres above ground level.
If any part of the porch were within 2 metres of any boundary and the highway.

Do I Need Building Regulations?

A porch is normally exempt from Building Regulation Approval if it is built at ground level and is under 3 square metres in floor area. This is provided that the glazing and fixed electrical installations comply with the appropriate sections of the building regulations (see competent person scheme)

For a porch to be exempt from building regulations approval:

the front entrance door between the exisitng house and the new porch must remain in place.
If the house has a ramped or level access for disabled people, the porch must not adversely affect access.