Bespoke timber shop fronts for conservation areas
Bespoke timber shop fronts London. Conservation area shop fronts made by hand for listed and period buildings, with planning support and architect‑grade detailing.
We design, make and install bespoke timber shop fronts in London for conservation areas, listed buildings and the kind of period high streets where a poorly judged frontage stands out for all the wrong reasons. Every shop front is drawn to suit the building it belongs to and made by hand in London, so the proportions, mouldings and glazing read as part of the original architecture rather than something bolted on.
Whether you are restoring a Victorian shop front, replacing a tired aluminium frontage, or fitting out a new venue inside a sensitive streetscape, we deliver conservation‑grade joinery that satisfies planning officers and elevates the building. Our timber shop fronts are regularly specified by architects and chosen by independent retailers, restaurants and galleries who want a frontage that looks considered and lasts for decades.
Why timber is the right choice for a shop front
Timber remains the benchmark material for a quality shop front, and not only on heritage grounds. A well built timber frontage is strong, stable and repairable, which means a knock, a scuff or years of weather can be made good rather than written off. Aluminium and uPVC frontages tend to look dated quickly and cannot be reworked once damaged, whereas a timber shop front can be sanded, repainted and refreshed indefinitely.
We build our shop fronts from durable, moisture‑resistant engineered timbers and finish them with A‑rated, factory‑applied coatings that resist weather and ultraviolet light. The result is a frontage that holds its line through London winters and keeps its appearance with minimal upkeep, usually no more than an occasional clean and a periodic repaint. Toughened glass units are specified for safety and security, and the framing is detailed to take signage, lighting and shutters cleanly.
Just as important is the impression a timber shop front makes. Deep reveals, crisp mouldings and a hand‑painted finish signal quality to the customer walking past, which is why independent retailers, restaurants, galleries and high‑end brands consistently choose timber to attract the clientele they want. A frontage like this is part of the business, not just the building.
Conservation areas and listed buildings
Much of London sits within a conservation area, and many of its older shops are listed or fall under an Article 4 direction that removes permitted development rights. In these settings the local authority will expect any new or replacement shop front to respect the historic character of the street, and timber is almost always the material they will accept. Modern substitutes are routinely refused.
We work to conservation‑grade standards as a matter of course. That means traditional construction, accurate profiles for stallrisers, pilasters, fascias and cornices, and glazing patterns that suit the period of the building. Where a frontage is part of a listed building or a terrace of architectural value, we match existing detailing closely so the new work sits comfortably alongside what survives. This is the same standard architects and conservation officers look for, and it is the reason our timber shop fronts have been approved in every conservation area where we have submitted them.
Because we make by hand in London rather than ordering in standard units, we can answer the specific concerns of a planning or conservation officer, whether that is a particular moulding profile, a historic colour, slim sightlines or a faithful reproduction of a lost original frontage.
Restoration and bespoke manufacture
Our work falls into two strands that often overlap. The first is restoration, where an original timber shop front survives in part and is worth saving. We assess what remains, repair sound timber, splice in new sections where decay has set in, and remake the elements that are beyond recovery so the finished frontage reads as one coherent whole. This careful, conservation‑led approach keeps the historic fabric and the value it carries.
The second is bespoke manufacture, where we design and build a complete new shop front from first principles. Every component is drawn for the specific opening and made to measure, so the proportions are right for the building rather than compromised to fit a catalogue size. This is where hand making matters most: subtle adjustments to a fascia depth, a stallriser height or a glazing bar are simple for us and impossible for an off‑the‑shelf system.
In both cases the joinery is made in London and finished before it reaches site, then installed by our own fitters who understand how a heritage frontage goes together. Doing the manufacture and the installation ourselves keeps the quality consistent from drawing to doorway.
Planning and approvals
A new or altered shop front in a sensitive location usually needs planning permission, and a listed building will also require listed building consent. We are experienced in guiding clients through that process and in giving planning and conservation officers exactly the information they ask for.
To support an application we prepare detailed specifications, scale drawings and physical timber and finish samples that show precisely what will be built. Clear, professional documentation of this kind makes an officer's decision straightforward and significantly improves the likelihood of approval. Where the work is genuinely like‑for‑like, we can also help establish whether it falls outside the need for permission and obtain written confirmation to that effect, saving time before manufacture begins.
Architects and shopfitters are welcome to bring us in at the design stage so the joinery is buildable and compliant from the outset. The earlier we are involved, the smoother the path through approvals and the better the finished frontage.
Where we work
We are based in London and offer a full design, manufacture and installation service across London and the South East, where most of our conservation and listed‑building shop front work is carried out. Beyond that region we offer supply only across the rest of the UK, providing made‑to‑measure timber shop fronts for installation by a local team.
If your project involves a conservation area, a listed building or simply a frontage that deserves better than a standard unit, we would be glad to discuss it and advise on the right approach.
Common questions
Do I need planning permission for a timber shop front in a conservation area?
In most conservation areas, and for any listed building, yes. New or altered shop fronts in these settings normally require planning permission, and listed buildings also need listed building consent. Where the work is a genuine like‑for‑like replacement it may fall outside the need for permission, and we can help confirm that in writing. We prepare the drawings, specifications and samples that planning and conservation officers expect.
Why is timber preferred over aluminium or uPVC for shop fronts?
Timber is strong, repairable and capable of the fine mouldings and proportions that period and listed buildings call for, which is why conservation officers almost always require it. Unlike aluminium or uPVC, a timber frontage can be repaired, repainted and refreshed indefinitely rather than replaced when damaged or dated.
Can you restore an existing period shop front rather than replace it?
Yes. Where an original frontage survives in part we repair sound timber, splice in new sections and remake lost elements to match, so the historic fabric is retained and the finished shop front reads as one whole. This conservation‑led approach is often preferred by planning officers and protects the building's character and value.
Do you work with architects and shopfitters?
Regularly. Our timber shop fronts are specified by architects, and we are happy to be involved from the design stage so the joinery is buildable, compliant and ready for approval. We can provide the detailing, drawings and samples needed to support a planning or listed building consent application.
Which areas do you cover?
We offer a full design, manufacture and installation service across London and the South East, and supply only across the rest of the UK. All our joinery is made by hand in London.
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Request a surveyA studio of The Barnsbury Group
Barnsbury Joinery is the flagship studio of The Barnsbury Group, a second‑generation heritage joinery house. Established in London in 1987, it makes bespoke joinery by hand and carries the parent voice for the family of studios.
