All 49 Conservation Areas · Prior Approval Handled · From Quoted per property
Edinburgh has 49 conservation areas covering more than a quarter of the city — including New Town, Old Town, Marchmont, Morningside, Bruntsfield, Stockbridge, The Grange, Inverleith, Trinity, Newington and Polwarth. Since May 2024, the City of Edinburgh Council requires prior approval for most window replacement on principal elevations and on road-facing side elevations of conservation-area properties. Heatscape handles the prior-approval paperwork as part of every quote.
Before May 2024, permitted development rights allowed many conservation-area property owners to replace windows on certain elevations without council involvement. The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2024 narrowed those rights significantly. Now most window replacement on principal elevations of conservation-area properties needs prior approval — a lightweight planning process where the council confirms the replacement meets conservation standards before work starts. Decision in 28 days; £252 application fee.
The 'principal elevation' is the front of the building as seen from the street. Most Edinburgh conservation properties have a principal elevation facing the street and a rear elevation facing the back court or garden. Since May 2024, any window replacement on the principal elevation needs prior approval. Road-facing side elevations (typically at corner tenements and end terraces) also need prior approval in most conservation areas. Rear elevations and internal courtyard elevations generally don't, unless the property is also listed.
On conservation-area principal elevations: timber sash and case windows matching the original profile, astragal pattern and glazing bar pattern; slim-line double glazing in original sashes; like-for-like timber casement replacement where the original was casement; reversible sash windows on upper-floor tenements (because they retain sash appearance). What they'll refuse: uPVC on principal elevations, modern tilt-and-turn appearance on traditional tenements, casement on properties originally built with sash and case, profile or astragal pattern that doesn't match the original.
We complete the prior-approval application as part of every conservation-area quote. Bundle includes: site plan, elevation drawings showing existing and proposed windows, manufacturer's specification for the replacement window, photograph of the existing window from the street, heritage statement (one page). Submitted electronically. Decision in 28 days. Application fee £252; consent fee included in our project price.
The 49 conservation areas range from the World Heritage Old and New Towns (the most strictly enforced) through inner-suburban tenement belts (Marchmont, Bruntsfield, Tollcross, Newington, Polwarth) to villa enclaves (Morningside, Merchiston, The Grange, Trinity, Inverleith) and outer-suburb conservation enclaves (Cramond, Colinton, Duddingston). Enforcement is tighter in the World Heritage areas — the council will reject anything that doesn't match the original exactly. Outer conservation areas tend to be more flexible on rear-elevation work.
Survey, advise on what the council will approve, complete the prior-approval paperwork, submit to council, manufacture the windows during the 28-day decision window, install on approval. Total lead time 8–12 weeks from contract signing. Fixed price including all paperwork fees, no extras for council interventions. 10-year workmanship guarantee.
Quietest the house has ever been. Bay windows look stunning, and the survey caught a lintel issue two other firms missed.
Rachel B., Trinity EH5 — Triple glazing — full house · 5/5 ·
Door is solid, locks beautifully, and matched the listed-building colour the council insisted on. Faultless fitting.
Hugh M., Newington EH9 — Composite door + side panel · 5/5 ·