Soundproof Windows for Conservation Areas

If you’re lucky enough to live in a conservation area and are looking to make alterations to your property, you may need to get planning permission from your local authority before you proceed. You should also get in touch with the Building Control Service to inform them of your plans.

With years of experience installing windows in conservation areas, our expertise and our products are geared towards getting your planning permission approved.

As long as your replacement windows and doors are up to current building regulations, it is unlikely that you will require planning permission. Some local authorities won’t allow the installation of uPVC windows in certain areas, even if it’s not a conservation area.

In most instances you will be able to replace your windows or doors with like-for-like replacements without the need for planning permission under ‘permitted development’. This means that you will need to replace timber windows with timber windows, or box sash with box sash.

The exception to the rule is properties that fall under ‘Article 4 Direction’. In these properties the LPA may have specific requirements regarding window and door installation.

As opposed to houses, flats and offices are not covered by permitted development, which means that these properties generally require planning permission. The good news is that this mostly doesn’t include windows and doors, as long as they’re like-for-likes as explained above. Article 4 Direction may still apply to the property, so do check with the LPA first.

In listed buildings you will always need planning permission to change the windows and doors, and getting permission can be tricky. In many cases permission is only granted if you cannot economically repair your windows, you can source specific glazing (i.e. hand-drawn glass), and the new windows or doors are made from identical materials.

Concealing most of the external frame behind the facade of your property.

In keeping with the properties in your area, we have a range of heritage glazing bars to choose from.

Sash lifts, heritage fitch fasteners, dee handles and more.

If budget is an issue, or you can’t change the outward appearance of your property, installing secondary glazing within your existing frames can dramatically improve both insulation and soundproofing.

However, there are a few issues when it comes to installing secondary glazing. For one, you will lose any internal cill space that you had, and can lose even more room if the cill needs to be extended. Additionally, conservation officers may deny their installation as, even though they’re installed inside the property, they can change the overall aesthetic.

The most sure-fire way to get approval is to get custom-made replacements that have the same aesthetic appeal as your current windows. Depending upon the rules that govern your local area, you may be required to have the windows made from the same materials and will certainly need to replicate their overall shape, size, colour and finish.

It goes without saying that having bespoke windows manufactured for your property, especially if they improve thermal efficiency and reduce noise pollution, will add genuine value to your home – both in terms of resale, and quality of living.

However, when it comes to listed buildings, you may need to source rare or expensive materials such as hand-drawn glass, for this reason they can be expensive and may not actually improve thermal efficiency or soundproofing.