Rehau TOTAL70 Windows for Conservation Areas: UK Guide

Owning a home in a conservation area does not rule out uPVC windows, but it does mean the system you choose has to satisfy a planning officer as well as your own taste. Rehau TOTAL70 is one of the systems we fabricate in-house at our Uxbridge workshop, and it comes up often with homeowners on designated streets who want a modern, efficient window that still reads as appropriate next to their neighbours' originals. This guide sets out what conservation area rules actually require and where TOTAL70 fits.

What Conservation Area Status Actually Restricts

A conservation area designation protects the character of a street or neighbourhood rather than an individual building, so the rules sit alongside normal permitted development rights rather than replacing them entirely. Most straightforward window replacements on an unlisted house inside a conservation area still fall under permitted development, provided the new windows match the style, proportions and general appearance of the originals. Where a local authority has removed permitted development rights with an Article 4 direction, or where the property is listed, full planning permission is required and the bar for matching the existing look is higher. The starting point is always to check with the local planning department or a specialist before assuming either way.

Why the Stepped Casement Profile Matters

TOTAL70 is a standard casement system, meaning the opening sash sits slightly proud of the outer frame rather than flush with it. That stepped, sculptured line is the profile uPVC casements have carried for decades, and it reads as a familiar, unobtrusive window shape rather than something obviously modern. On streets where the original joinery was already a simple casement rather than a flush sash, TOTAL70 tends to sit comfortably because the sightlines and proportions can be matched closely to what is being replaced. Where a property specifically needs the flatter, flush look of a traditional timber casement, our Rio system is the closer match; the two are worth discussing together at survey.

Sightlines, Glazing Bars and Colour

Planning officers generally focus on three things: the width of the visible frame, whether glazing bars match the original pattern, and the finish colour. Rehau's slim multi-chamber profile keeps sightlines narrow, which helps the window read closer to the original joinery than a bulkier system would. Georgian bars or astragal bars can be specified to replicate a period pattern where the original windows carried them, and foiled finishes in heritage-appropriate colours such as white, cream or a period green are available rather than only standard white. None of these choices should be treated as fixed before survey; what a specific application needs depends on the exact street and the case officer, and we confirm the detail once we have seen the property.

Performance Without Compromising the Look

Choosing a sympathetic profile does not mean giving up modern performance. TOTAL70 is built on multi-chamber Rehau profile with warm-edge glazing as standard and achieves A-rated energy performance within current Building Regulations for replacement windows. Multi-point locking and toughened or laminated safety glass are specified to suit the opening, so the window performs like any other modern Rehau installation. The conservation area consideration affects the outward appearance and dimensions rather than the internal build quality or security spec.

Getting the Application Right First Time

The most common reason a conservation area window application gets refused or delayed is a mismatch between the drawings submitted and what actually gets specified on site. Working from accurate survey measurements and a profile that can genuinely replicate the sightlines and bar pattern of the originals gives an application the best chance of a smooth pass. We can supply drawings and product specification to support a planning submission, and our team can talk through what has and has not been approved on similar streets nearby, though every local authority makes its own judgement on the day.

Fabricated and Fitted by Vitrum Solutions

Vitrum Solutions cuts, machines and assembles the Rehau range into finished windows at our Uxbridge workshop, then fits them with our own team. Every installation is FENSA registered and carries a 10-year CPA insurance-backed guarantee. See the TOTAL70 system detail, the wider Rehau uPVC range, or request a free survey to talk through a conservation area project.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I fit uPVC windows in a conservation area?

Often, yes, provided the replacement windows match the style, proportions and appearance of the originals closely enough. Whether permitted development applies or full planning permission is needed depends on whether an Article 4 direction has removed permitted development rights on that street, and whether the property is listed. Checking with the local planning department before ordering is the safest first step.

Is Rehau TOTAL70 suitable for a period property?

TOTAL70 is a stepped casement system that closely matches the traditional casement profile many period homes were originally fitted with, so it suits properties where the look being replaced was already a simple casement rather than a flush sash. For a flatter, flush-fitting look our Rio system is the closer match, and we discuss both against the specific property at survey.

Do conservation area windows cost more than standard replacements?

Sightlines, glazing bar patterns and heritage-appropriate colours are all specification choices confirmed at survey rather than fixed extras, so the right way to understand the difference for your project is a site visit rather than a general figure. Every quote reflects the exact profile, glass and finish agreed for your home.

Will Georgian bars affect the window's performance?

No. Glazing bars are a surface-applied or internal design feature and do not compromise the thermal or security performance of the underlying Rehau profile, which stays multi-chamber with warm-edge glazing regardless of the bar pattern chosen.

Who fabricates and installs Rehau TOTAL70 in conservation areas?

Vitrum Solutions fabricates the Rehau range in-house at our Uxbridge workshop and installs across West London and the surrounding counties, including many conservation area streets. Every installation is FENSA registered with a 10-year CPA insurance-backed guarantee, and we can support planning applications with accurate drawings and specification.