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Premium window and door designer The Residence Collection has pioneered change by overcoming the restrictions of installing modern windows in heritage buildings.
These properties come with additional challenges and limitations when it comes to planning consent for upgrading and renovating, including installing new windows.
The Residence Collection has built an impressive residential portfolio of installations in these types of properties, and they have highlighted some of the top considerations for homeowners when upgrading their historical homes.
Conservation Areas
There are around 10,000 conservation areas in England, covering approximately 3,000 square kilometres, which are put in place by local authorities to protect special architectural and historic local areas.
Many villages, towns, and cities that are in conservation areas rely on specific style windows to ensure the architectural and character impact isn’t compromised.
A conservation area not only protects the community’s charm but also the properties within it, as inappropriate, poor quality replacement windows can erode traditional features on historic buildings.
Planning consent
Within conservation areas, Article 4 Directions are imposed by the local authority to restrict the scope of permitted development rights in an area or site. This is to control works that could threaten the character or architectural merit of an area or property that has acknowledged importance.
If a property is under an Article 4 Direction, the ability to install new windows can be affected, and the homeowner may need to have planning consent to be able to move forward with the work.
However, at the beginning of 2024, the government announced an energy efficiency drive for heritage homes in the UK.
This drive is set to review the wide range of barriers homeowners face when looking to future proof their homes, while protecting their heritage. The review will also explore how these barriers are placing restrictions on the UK achieving Net Zero status by 2050.
With approximately 5.9 million properties built before 1919 in the UK1, owners of these heritage buildings face difficult restrictions when looking to upgrade them structurally. With the appropriate energy saving measures, owners of buildings built before 1919 could save approximately £428 per year on their energy costs2, showing the necessity of the government’s review.
Choosing new windows
Choosing a window style that sympathetically and sensitively upgrades a period property is one of the most difficult parts of a new window journey.
In order to maintain the authentic look of the property and to comply with today’s building regulations, installing modern flush sash uPVC windows is the ideal solution.
While white is the go-to in modern homes, one of the many beauties of period properties is that coloured frames are historically a focal point, and can now be recreated to match the homes’ traditional roots.
There are many more colour options to add to the character. For example, installers should recommend a neutral coloured window for a Victorian home, darker frames in historic terraces, or more natural shades in a whitewashed cottage.
Choosing these colours for period property windows allows the homeowners to keep the aesthetic of the home while benefiting from the contemporary features that come with uPVC windows.
The Residence Collection’s R9 range can tick all the boxes when it comes to renovating a period property. It is designed to replicate the flush timber designs found in heritage homes across towns, villages and cities around the UK. This uPVC alternative to timber enables homeowners to replace windows with an authentic design and in heritage colours without losing their character.
The R9 collection is available in 21 standard colourways with a choice of hardware to suit a variety of historic periods. The R9 features nine chambers and has a frame depth of 100mm, as well as double and triple glazing options with an A++ energy efficiency rating.
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