Leicester · Leicestershire
Shopfront Glazing in Leicester
Need a wider, step-free entrance for customers in Leicester? We can quote for new shopfront doors and thresholds designed around current access guidance.
- LE1
- LE3
- LE4
- LE5
- Guide from £375
Shopfront glazing for homes and businesses in Leicester
Some councils' shopfront guidance discourages solid external roller shutters and grilles, and in England external security measures that change the frontage's appearance usually need planning permission. Laminated security glass or internal open-mesh grilles are often considered as alternatives that keep the window display visible.
The price depends on the size and number of panes, the glass specification, the frame material, door type and ironmongery, access equipment for large panes and any out-of-hours working. Automatic doors, security glass classes and curved or bespoke framing add cost. See the guide prices for typical ranges.
The same guidance in England asks for an accessible entrance to have a level threshold or, where a raised threshold cannot be avoided, one no more than 15mm high in total, with a level landing in front of the door at least 1500mm by 1500mm clear of the door swing.
New or changed signs may need advertisement consent from the local planning authority. Many plain, non-illuminated fascia signs have deemed consent subject to conditions, while illuminated signs more often need express consent. Displaying an advert without the consent it needs is a criminal offence in England.
What a typical job includes
- Safety or security glass specified to suit the position
- Manifestation where required, final clean and handover
- Installation, sealing and adjustment of entrance doors
- Aluminium or timber framing, doors and ironmongery as quoted
Local details for Leicester
- Postcodes covered
- LE1, LE3, LE4, LE5 and the surrounding area, including Oadby, Wigston Magna and Earl Shilton
- Coast
- Leicester is well inland, around 83 km from the nearest coast, so salt exposure is not usually a factor.
- Daylight and sun
- In Leicester the midwinter sun reaches about 14° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 7.4 hours of daylight, rising to about 61° and 16.6 hours in midsummer. South- and west-facing display windows can fade stock and overheat the shop in summer, while low winter sun causes glare that hides window displays. Solar control glass, window film and internal blinds can all help.
- Access and setting
- High-street shopfronts may need a council licence for scaffolding or hoarding on the pavement, lifting at restricted times and overnight boarding. Conservation area rules, neighbouring businesses and shared freeholds can all shape the design and programme.
- Rules in England
- Approved Document K requires safety glass in critical locations in England: glazing in doors and in side panels within 300 mm of a door, up to 1500 mm above floor level, and any glazing in walls or partitions up to 800 mm above floor level.
Guide prices in Leicester
| Typical job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Replace a laminated pane, 2000 × 2200 mm | £855 – £1,095 |
| Security laminated pane, 2000 × 2200 mm | £1,195 – £1,495 |
| Toughened door pane, 900 × 2000 mm | £375 – £485 |
Get a guide price for your size
Replacing windows and doors with similar ones is usually permitted development for houses in England. Flats, listed buildings and homes in conservation areas or covered by an Article 4 direction can need permission, so check with the council first.
Specification choices
Frameless glass entrance
Toughened glass doors on patch fittings and floor springs, giving an open, clear entrance between framed or frameless display screens.
Timber shopfront
Painted timber frames, stallrisers and doors in traditional proportions, often expected for listed buildings and conservation areas.
Laminated security glass
Laminated glass classified under BS EN 356 that resists manual attack and stays in the frame when broken, keeping the shop secure.
Shopfront Glazing in Leicester: questions
Do I need planning permission for a new shopfront?
In England, a new shopfront or alterations that materially change its appearance, such as new doors, a different layout or external shutters, usually need planning permission. Listed buildings also need listed building consent. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own planning systems. We can provide drawings and specifications to support your application to the planning authority.
Do I have to remove the step at my shop entrance?
Not automatically, but in England, Wales and Scotland the Equality Act 2010 requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments, which can include physical changes like a ramp or a level threshold. What is reasonable depends on the business and the building. When an entrance is replaced, building regulations on access also apply to the new work.
How wide should a shop entrance door be?
For new buildings in England, access guidance gives a minimum effective clear width of 1000mm for external doors used by the general public, and 775mm where an existing building is altered. The clear width is the usable opening with the door open, not the door size. Other UK nations publish their own guidance, so we confirm the applicable figure.
What type of glass should a shopfront have?
Shopfront glass must be safety glass wherever it sits in a critical location, such as doors, panels beside doors and low-level panes. Beyond that, laminated glass is often chosen for display windows because it stays in the frame when broken, keeping the premises secure. Higher-security laminated glass classified under BS EN 356 can be specified where risk is greater.
Do you cover Leicester for shopfront glazing?
Yes. We can quote for shopfront glazing across Leicester and the surrounding Leicestershire area, including postcode districts LE1, LE3, LE4 and LE5, and nearby Oadby, Wigston Magna and Earl Shilton. Start with your postcode on the quote form and a glazier will arrange a free survey before giving you a written quote.
Get a written quote in Leicester
Free survey for new glazing, clear guide prices and one point of contact for every glazing job.