Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
Timber Sash Windows Kensington
Heritage and conservation specialists serving all Kensington conservation areas
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has 38 conservation areas covering over two thirds of its geographical area, one of the highest concentrations of heritage-protected streetscape in London. In Kensington, this means Georgian townhouses on Holland Park Avenue, Victorian stucco terraces in the Ladbroke conservation area, and Edwardian mansion blocks in South Kensington, the majority with original or period-replacement timber sash windows that planning officers expect to see maintained in like-for-like materials.
We work across all Kensington conservation areas. Our Heritage Sash Windows use solid framed glazing bars and slimlight double glazing accepted by RBKC heritage officers. For listed buildings requiring the thinnest possible glazing, our Vacuum Glazed profile fits the original rebate at 8.3mm, visually indistinguishable from single glazing. We supply LBC drawings and specification documentation as standard.
Sash window specifications for Kensington homes
Conservation areas we cover in Kensington
- Ladbroke
- Holland Park
- Norland
- Colville
- Avondale
- Pembridge
- Kensington Square
- Kensington Palace
- Lexham
- Nevern Square
- South Kensington
Installation in Kensington conservation areas
RBKC is one of London's most active heritage enforcement boroughs. Article 4 Directions are in place across much of the borough, removing permitted development rights and requiring planning permission for window replacements that would be consent-free elsewhere. Heritage officers in RBKC routinely specify solid glazing bars, putty-fronted glazing and authentic timber sections, applied bars are commonly rejected on listed buildings and in the most sensitive conservation areas.
Our survey process includes a planning assessment at no extra charge. We advise on the correct profile for your specific street and conservation area, prepare LBC drawings if required, and supply written specifications for planning submissions. Every window is made to measure from our survey, with a factory-applied finish and a 10-year paint warranty.
Sash window questions from Kensington homeowners
Do I need planning permission for sash windows in Kensington?
Most of Kensington lies in one of the Royal Borough's conservation areas, and Article 4 Directions apply in many of them, so window replacement usually needs planning permission. Listed buildings, common on the garden squares, also need Listed Building Consent. We confirm your address's status during the free survey and prepare the drawings RBKC asks for.
What does RBKC accept for glazing in stucco terraces?
On the white stucco terraces around Kensington Gardens Square, Pembridge and Cornwall Gardens, RBKC expects the sash to keep its original sightlines. Slimlight units of roughly 12–16mm behind solid framed bars are normally accepted, and 8.3mm vacuum glazing where the original rebate must be retained exactly.
Can you replace windows in a flat within a converted townhouse?
Yes, and it is common in Kensington. The freeholder or management company usually has to consent alongside the council, and the replacement has to match the other flats in the building. We supply the drawings and specification in a form you can hand to the managing agent.
Do you work on mews houses and garden square rear elevations?
Yes. Rear elevations and mews properties often allow a slightly more flexible specification than the principal facade, which can reduce cost. We advise where the borough is likely to accept a simpler profile and where it will not.
How disruptive is installation in a Kensington terrace?
We work room by room, one to two windows at a time, and make the opening weathertight and secure the same day. Where scaffolding or a suspended bay is needed we obtain the RBKC licence and schedule around resident parking restrictions.
Nearby areas we cover
More timber windows for Kensington homes
Request a Free Survey & Quote
Book a free measured survey for sash windows in Kensington. We respond within one working day.