Cloakroom in the porch!

[DarlingClementine85]

We desperately need a downstairs loo but have nowhere to put it, so we started thinking about a front porch with cloakroom. Is it an inherently weird idea or does it kind of work? I have an irrational hatred of uPVC porches and most of the houses around us have something like the first pic. I'd rather not have a loo than pay to have one of those. But would something like the second pic work? I guess it's just rendered brickwork with a different window but somehow looks a lot better. I can't find any info online about its layout though.

My AIBU is, having a toilet in the porch is brilliant and it can look good....!! But has anyone here managed it?!

I think it would be fine as long as you have enough space. I’m assuming with the second pic (the one you like) there’s a corridor and a space for coats then the loo is off to the right. Personally I think that would be absolutely fine and probably quite nice, I might be tempted to have a slightly smaller window or put one on the side though. Obviously you’d also need to work out a way to link to your plumbing/ drains too.

A toilet window to greet guests seems weird to me, but houses are compromises. Can your porch go sideways, or do you have a side passage that you could extend into?

Porches over 3m tall and is 3 square metres need planning. https://interactive.planningportal.co.uk/mini-guide/porches/0

My mother's old house had a loo immediately to the right just inside the front door. I don't think having it in the porch as such would be an issue, provided the porch was built to a good enough spec, and there was enough room. Obviously you need enough room for a corridor past the door to the bathroom, and enough room to get into the bathroom and close the door.

My house has a toilet window to greet guests. In fact, if you approach the house head on, you face that window and the front door is actually to the side of you. Mine is a mass produced newbuild. So I guess loads of people have it just like this. My neighbour for one as their house is identical!

My mum has something like pic #2. It was built before she moved in, so i don't know how it was designed. Some neighbours have the same, so I guess numerous people think it works.

[Edit for typo]

Hehe. Uncle could often be heard by us visitors on the doorstep, pissing or plopping with the sound drifting through his slightly open toilet window at the front door. Most amusing as kids. I refused to use that loo.

We had to shoehorn a downstairs toilet in a previous property. Not in the porch though but in a conservatory. Is there already a porch, or you are planning to build one with a toilet included? It could work. My tips:

-A sliding door or one that opens out into the hall will save 1m2 of floor space within the loo area.
-Rather than a window being adjacent to the front door like your pic 2, if possible, I'd have one on the side, or up above the toilet on the side. No one wants to be sat on the loo and worry the curtain might move and someone at the door will see them!
-Look at compact toilets with a sink as part of it- see pic
-Look at where the current water/sewer goes. This is what can cost if you need to do a lot of underground pipe work.

We have a upvc porch and I hate it, but I have just been laughing imaging a toilet in there!
our downstairs toilet is under the stairs and only suitable if you’re under 5ft 10 or have a bloody good aim from long distance.