Questions about windows in Lewes
The questions Lewes owners ask most, nearly all of them about permission before price.
Do I need planning permission to replace windows in Lewes?
It depends on three things: whether the building is listed, whether it is inside the Lewes conservation area on an elevation covered by the Article 4 direction, and whether it is a flat. If none of those applies, replacement windows of similar appearance on a house are normally permitted development. The planning checker on this site walks through it.
Who do I apply to in Lewes, the district council or the National Park?
The South Downs National Park Authority. Lewes is inside the Park, and since 1 April 2026 the Authority has handled all planning applications in the town with its own team, based at County Hall. Ringmer, Barcombe and most of Cooksbridge are outside the Park and go to Lewes District Council.
Does the Article 4 direction cover the back of my house?
The direction removes permitted development rights for works on elevations facing a highway, a waterway or open space. A back wall that faces only a private garden is usually outside it. A back wall that faces a twitten, a car park or the river may not be, because public paths count as highways. Ask the Authority if in doubt.
Can I have uPVC sash windows on the front of a house in the Lewes conservation area?
Only with planning permission, which is not guaranteed. Some owners apply for woodgrain uPVC sashes with horns and run-through bars; painted timber to the existing pattern is the route most likely to be approved. The example jobs page shows both routes priced for the same type of terrace.
My house is listed. Can I have double glazing?
Possibly, in timber, if the Authority agrees it does not harm the building. Many owners of listed houses improve their sashes with secondary glazing inside the existing window instead, which is usually easier to get agreed. uPVC is very rarely accepted on a listed building.
Is the Article 4 direction about to change?
The Authority consulted on a replacement in 2023 that would list individual properties and control new or altered openings more explicitly. Most people who answered the questions on it disagreed with the update. When this site was checked in October 2026, the Authority still listed the direction issued in 1995 and confirmed in 1996. Check the current position before you apply.
How long does consent take?
Householder planning applications are normally decided within eight weeks of validation, and listed building consent runs to a similar timetable. Add time for pre-application advice and for drawings, and allow two to three months before frames can be ordered.
Are mathematical tiles a problem when fitting new windows?
They need care. Mathematical tiles overclad a timber frame and, as the conservation area appraisal notes, lack the defined lintels of real brick. The installer should survey the opening and plan how to support and make good the tiles around the new frame.
How much do windows cost in Lewes?
There is no price list. The example jobs page sets out eight typical jobs from one rear sash to a whole house, each with a total range. Timber box sashes are from £2,650 installed per window. The written quote after survey is what you would pay.