Glass links & glass box roofs for Kensington: the essentials
Thinking about glass links & glass box roofs in Kensington? The short answer: frameless glass links joining old and new buildings. The longer answer depends on your roof, which is why we survey before we price.
Victorian and Edwardian terraces with narrow side returns are typical of much of London, and a glass roof or long flat rooflight is the usual way to keep the back rooms bright once the return is built over. In Kensington, as anywhere, glass links & glass box roofs are the usual choice for listed and period buildings where the old wall should stay visible.
From Kensington to Notting Hill, Shepherds Bush and Chelsea, the same survey-first process applies: measure, specify, fix the price, then fit.
What you can choose
- Frameless or slim-framed glass
- Structural glass beams and fins
- Frameless sliding or pivot doors
- Solar-control and low-iron glass
- Concealed gutters and drainage
- Structural glass roof with concealed fixings
- Bright circulation space
Things we check at survey
- Listed building consent or planning permission is commonly needed
- Thermal performance of large glass areas must be calculated
Planning and building rules for Kensington
Most rooflights on English houses do not need planning permission, provided they keep within 150 mm of the roof surface and below the ridge line. A rooflight on a side-facing slope must be obscure-glazed, and fixed shut unless the opening part is more than 1.7 m above the floor.
For English homes the energy rules ask for rooflights of 2.2 W/m²K or better and roof windows of 1.4 W/m²K (or WER Band B); most modern double glazed units meet both. The Future Homes and Buildings Standards, published in March 2026, apply from 24 March 2027 and keep the 2.2 W/m²K limit for rooflights.
Read the planning permission guide before you commit to a design.
Glass links & glass box roofs prices in Kensington
Guide prices for glass links & glass box roofs in Kensington are the same as anywhere we work — what changes the price is the job: access, structure, scaffold and finishing.
| Option | Guide price inc VAT | Ex VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Fully frameless link with glass beams | £20,395 – £35,995 | £16,995 – £29,995 |
| Glass roof and glazed sides Typical | £13,195 – £20,395 | £10,995 – £16,995 |
| Glass roof between existing walls | £9,595 – £13,195 | £7,995 – £10,995 |
What happens next
- Send the details. Postcode, rough size and a photo of the roof and room.
- Measure and check. A surveyor visits Kensington, measures and checks structure and access.
- Written price. You receive a fixed price listing the unit, the work and the lead time.
- Fitting and handover. We install, clean down and leave product and warranty documents.
Nearby towns
Other services in Kensington
Questions about glass links & glass box roofs in Kensington
Who designs it?
Your architect, or we produce a survey-based design that the glass manufacturer engineers.
Is structural glass safe?
Structural glass is laminated so it stays in place if a ply breaks. The manufacturer designs it for the loads involved.
Do glass links need planning permission?
Often, yes — and listed building consent if either building is listed. We can provide drawings and product data for your application.
Is the survey in Kensington free?
Yes for new installations. Repair visits are charged, and we tell you the price before we book.
Can you work alongside my builder in Kensington?
Yes. On new extensions we fit once the opening and upstand are ready and coordinate dates with your builder.
