Understanding the listing
We read the listing description, review the property's history and identify which features are protected. Not every part of a listed building is equally protected, knowing what matters shapes the design.
Sensitive · Heritage
Listed Building &
Conservation Area
Stove Installations
Stoves and fireplaces installed sympathetically in listed buildings and conservation areas, with the planning, listed building consent and Building Control managed on your behalf.
20+ years installing across Windsor & Berkshire · HETAS 3869 · Written quote within 24–48 hours.
20+ yrs
Installing in Windsor & Berkshire
HETAS
Registered installers (3869)
£5m
Zurich Public Liability cover
12 mo
Workmanship guarantee minimum
24–48h
Fixed written quote turnaround
Overview
What this service is: and who it is for.
What it is
Listed and conservation-area work covers the full installation plus the additional planning, listed building consent and Building Control processes that heritage properties require. It also covers sympathetic material selection so the finished fireplace reads as period-appropriate rather than modern imposition.
Who it is for
Right for owners of Grade II and Grade II* listed properties across Windsor, Eton, Bray, Cookham, Marlow and the wider Thames Valley, and for anyone within a conservation area where external work (including twin-wall flues on visible elevations) requires planning consent.
When to book
As early as possible in the project. Consent applications routinely take 6–12 weeks; specifying stove, chamber and flue at the same time as the consent submission avoids costly re-applications later.
Why professional help matters
Heritage properties in this area have significant value tied up in their architectural integrity. Sensitive fireplace installation preserves, and often enhances, that value; insensitive installation can damage it and cost you at resale.
If it's ignored
The cost of getting this wrong is higher than the cost of doing it once.
Unauthorised work in a listed building is a criminal offence.
Removing, altering or adding to a listed feature without listed building consent is a prosecutable offence. It also creates a disclosable problem the day you sell.
The wrong flue on a visible elevation triggers enforcement.
A twin-wall flue installed externally on a conservation-area or listed property without consent frequently triggers a planning enforcement notice, with the flue ordered to be removed at owner cost.
Modern materials in a period chamber jar visually.
Contemporary slate hearths and steel reveals rarely sit well in a Georgian or Regency room. Sympathetic material selection is what makes the fireplace look meant.
Our process
Five steps from first call to certificate in your hand.
The same disciplined sequence on every project, whether it's a Georgian townhouse in Windsor or a new-build media wall in Ascot.
01
Free site survey
Chris visits your home to measure the chimney, hearth, room volume and ventilation. We inspect the flue, discuss aesthetics and confirm what is achievable in your specific property, from Georgian townhouses to sealed new-build breasts.
02
Fixed written quote in 24–48 hours
Every line item priced: stove, flue components, hearth, chamber works, building control. Potential extras (unforeseen chimney issues, structural adjustments) are itemised in advance so the number you sign off is the number you pay.
03
Design & specification sign-off
We refine the stove choice, materials, chamber finish and flue route with you. Deposit: cost of the stove plus 50% of installation, secures your slot within 72 hours of quote acceptance.
04
Installation on site (typically 1–3 days)
Dust sheets and protection go down first. Our HETAS-registered team completes the install to Building Regulations, cleans as we go, and treats your home like our own, no shortcuts, no mess left behind.
05
Testing, HETAS certificate & aftercare
Smoke test, draw test, first light with you present, plus a full walk-through of controls, fuel and maintenance. HETAS certificate issued to you and your insurer. 12-month workmanship guarantee starts the day we leave.
The benefit
What you actually get: beyond a stove in a hole.
Six specific, measurable outcomes we deliver on every job. No vague marketing claims.
Consent submissions prepared and managed
We prepare and submit listed building consent and conservation-area planning applications on your behalf, working with your local authority conservation officer.
Sympathetic material palette
Reclaimed brick, honed and antiqued stone, cast iron register grates, hand-forged detailing, matched to the era of the property.
Internal flue routing where possible
We prioritise routing flues internally through the property or up the existing chimney rather than externally on visible elevations.
Building Control coordination
Where separate Building Control notification is needed (rare given our HETAS registration), we manage that too.
Trades experienced with period fabric
Our masons, plasterers and joiners understand lime plaster, lath, reclaimed brick and traditional detailing, not just modern gypsum and plasterboard.
Preserves and enhances property value
Sympathetic, consented work is an asset at resale; unauthorised work is a liability.
Deep detail
What working in listed and conservation properties involves
The engineering, materials and decisions behind the finished job.
Pre-application discussion
For significant works we hold a pre-application discussion with the local authority conservation officer to gauge acceptability before formal submission, saving weeks and reducing risk of refusal.
Application preparation
We prepare measured drawings, a design and access statement where required, product data sheets and photographs. Applications are submitted through the planning portal on your behalf.
Sensitive installation
On site, we protect original features, cornices, skirtings, floor boards, and use techniques compatible with the fabric (lime rather than gypsum where original plaster is lime, for example). Reversibility is prioritised where practical.
Recent installations
Real listed & conservation work projects, completed in Windsor & Berkshire.
Every image below is a job we finished, no stock photography, no staged sets. Full portfolio on our work page.
Frequently asked
The questions we hear most often about listed & conservation work.
Can I install a wood burner in a listed building?
+
In most cases yes, with listed building consent. The stove itself is typically uncontroversial; the flue route and any alterations to the chimney breast are the areas conservation officers focus on. We manage the application and design to maximise chance of approval.
How long does listed building consent take?
+
Typically 8–12 weeks from submission. We recommend submitting early in a renovation programme so consent runs in parallel with other work rather than delaying it.
Do I need planning permission in a conservation area?
+
For the stove itself, generally no. For an external twin-wall flue on a visible elevation, usually yes. We survey and confirm at first visit.
Can you match original period detailing?
+
Yes: reclaimed brick, hand-cut sandstone, cast iron register grates and traditional lime plaster finishes are all within our regular material palette.
What happens if consent is refused?
+
Rare when applications are prepared properly, but if it happens we work with the conservation officer on a revised scheme. Our fee for consent management is fixed regardless of number of iterations required.
Do you work on Grade I listed buildings?
+
Yes: with additional consultation and design work reflecting the higher sensitivity. Grade I projects require more time in the design and consent stage.
Do you charge separately for consent management?
+
The consent management fee is included in the written quote as a line item, so it is transparent from the start. It typically covers all pre-application discussion, drawing preparation and submission.
What guarantee applies to the installation?
+
Same as any other installation, minimum 12-month workmanship guarantee, 15–30 year flue warranty, 5-year to lifetime stove warranty depending on brand.
Related services
Frequently specified alongside listed & conservation work.
Areas we serve
Installing across Windsor, Eton & Berkshire.
Next step
Book the free site survey. Have a written, fixed quote within 48 hours.
Chris personally attends every survey, measures the chimney, discusses the design, and prices every line item transparently. No sales pressure. No hidden extras on invoice day.
- Free 45-minute home survey.
- Fixed written quote within 24–48 hours.
- HETAS certificate on completion of every install.
- 12-month workmanship guarantee minimum.