Colchester is Britain’s oldest recorded town and one of its fastest-growing, so double glazing in Colchester has to suit everything from Tudor houses in the Dutch Quarter to brand-new estates at Stanway. Inspired Glazing makes aluminium windows and doors in its own workshop at Fifield, near Windsor, and installs them with its own team. We also supply UPVC windows and doors, composite doors, bifolds, sliding doors and conservatories.
Get a free, fixed-price quote in Colchester
Made in our own Fifield workshop and fitted by our own team. Aluminium windows from £400, lead times from 10 days and a 10-year guarantee. Tell us what you need and we’ll book a free survey.
Colchester’s housing, layer by layer
The Dutch Quarter takes its name from Flemish weavers and clothmakers who settled in the late sixteenth century, and many of its houses are Tudor. The Victorians and Edwardians added the Jumbo water tower, the town hall and street after street of terraces and villas, particularly around North Station Road, Lexden Road and the roads leading out of the centre.
More recent change has been dramatic. Between 1998 and 2008 much of the former Garrison land was sold and redeveloped as private housing. Greenfield building in Mile End and Braiswick, plus Stanway to the west, has added thousands of homes, and the built-up area passed 130,000 people in 2021. Colchester gained city status in 2022.
Planning, conservation areas and Article 4
Colchester City Council handles planning. The city has several conservation areas, including the central Colchester Area 1, Lexden Village, Lexden Road and The Avenue, the Mill Field Estate, and North Station Road and Environs, as well as Wivenhoe nearby. In North Station Road, an Article 4 direction for houses has applied since 12 April 2024, so altering windows and doors, porches and some other external works now needs planning permission. If you live in any conservation area or a listed building, check with Colchester City Council before ordering.
Flats need extra care: they have no householder permitted development rights, and leasehold flats normally need freeholder consent for new windows. Greater Essex is also due to be reorganised into five unitary councils, expected from April 2028 subject to parliamentary approval. Read our planning permission guide for more.
Choosing the right product
Victorian and Edwardian villas
Where planning allows, the Reynaers SlimLine 68 outward-opening casement, or Cortizo and Alunet aluminium windows, give slim profiles with strong thermal performance. Woodgrain finishes are available; we do not make timber windows.
Garrison conversions and new-build estates
Modern homes in the Garrison area, Stanway and the northern estates often suit Smart Visofold or Cortizo bifold doors, Reynaers ConceptPatio 130 sliding doors, and orangeries or roof lanterns on rear extensions.
Post-war semis and bungalows
In established suburbs such as Prettygate, UPVC windows on the Selecta Advance 70 system are reliable value, and composite doors provide a secure, low-maintenance entrance.
Wivenhoe, the university and rented homes
The University of Essex has been based at Wivenhoe Park since 1961, and the campus sits between the city and Wivenhoe. That means many houses in the east of Colchester and in Wivenhoe are rented, and landlords often want robust, low-maintenance frames that are quick to install between tenancies. UPVC on the Selecta Advance 70 system and composite doors suit that brief well. Wivenhoe itself, with its riverside quay, is a conservation area, so owners there should check with Colchester City Council before changing anything on street-facing elevations. For homes where aircraft, road or rail noise matters, ask us about acoustic glass.
Distance and planning the work
We do not have a Colchester showroom. Our only premises are in Fifield, roughly 95 miles away by road, usually around an hour and fifty minutes via the M25 and A12. Because of the distance, surveys and installations are booked in advance and organised around the journey, so the team arrives ready to complete the work. At the survey you can compare frame samples, glass options and colour charts in your own daylight, which is often the best way to choose a finish. Aluminium windows start from £400, lead times start from around 10 days, and we offer a 10-year guarantee. Our cost guide covers the main price factors.
Areas covered
We fit across Colchester, including Lexden, Stanway, Mile End, Highwoods, Greenstead and Old Heath, and in Wivenhoe, West Mersea and Tiptree. Nearby town pages include Sudbury, Witham and Braintree.
Book a free Colchester survey
Call 01753 965 005 (Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat 9am to 1pm), WhatsApp 07934 152 343, or request a quote online.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need permission for new windows on North Station Road?
Very likely. Colchester City Council made an Article 4 direction for houses in the North Station Road and Environs conservation area, effective 12 April 2024. It brings alterations to windows and doors, porches and some other external works under planning control. Check with the council before ordering; we can provide drawings and specifications.
Can you fit windows in a Garrison conversion flat?
We can quote, but flats have no householder permitted development rights, so new windows may need planning permission, and most leases require freeholder or management company approval. Some former military buildings in the area may also be listed. Please check with Colchester City Council and your freeholder first, and we will supply product details to help.
How much does double glazing cost in Colchester?
Our aluminium windows start from £400 each, depending on size, style, glass and colour. UPVC windows on the Selecta Advance 70 system usually cost less. Large sliding or bifold doors are priced individually. Your free survey produces a written quote for the whole job, including fitting and making good.
How do you handle the distance to Colchester?
Colchester is roughly 95 miles by road from our Fifield workshop near Windsor, usually under two hours. We have no Essex office, so we book surveys and installations in advance and plan fitting days carefully. Our own team travels with everything needed so the work is finished without unnecessary return trips.
Do you make timber sash windows for Dutch Quarter houses?
No. We do not manufacture timber windows or doors. Many Dutch Quarter houses are listed, where the council often expects timber repair or replacement. For unlisted period homes, woodgrain aluminium or UPVC may be acceptable. Check with Colchester City Council, and if timber is required, we will tell you honestly.