Flats and blocks · England
EWI for flats and blocks in Greater Manchester
Quotes for EWI for flats and blocks in Greater Manchester set out the system, detailing, access and VAT position in writing. For blocks in Greater Manchester, we start with height, storeys and the planning position, because those decide the system.
- Free survey and fixed written price
- Guide price from £110 per m² + scaffold, 0% VAT
- Planning and building control checked for England
Free survey in Greater Manchester
Tell us the postcode and what you need.
What you get
- Mineral wool systems where building height or guidance requires them
- Higher-risk buildings follow the Building Safety Regulator's process in England
- We work with managing agents on resident communication
- Planning permission is needed for flats and maisonettes
- Cavity barriers and fire-stopping detailed at compartment floors

What we look for in Greater Manchester
The North West has one of the largest stocks of pre-1919 solid-wall terraces in England, alongside Pennine stone houses and post-war estates.
Exposure to wind-driven rain varies across Greater Manchester: sheltered town streets fare better than walls on high ground or facing the prevailing weather, and the render, beads and cill details are chosen with that in mind.
On mixed-tenure blocks in Greater Manchester, we agree access and resident notices with the managing agent before scaffold goes up.
- Nation
- England
- Region
- North West
- Towns covered
- Manchester, Oldham, Wigan, Bolton, Stockport, Salford, Rochdale, Bury…
- Guide price
- From £110 per m² + scaffold · 0% VAT
Approvals in England
For houses, external wall insulation and render are often permitted development where the finish looks similar to the existing walls. Planning permission is usually needed in conservation areas, National Parks, National Landscapes, the Broads and World Heritage Sites (where cladding a house in stone, artificial stone, pebble dash, render, timber, plastic or tiles isn't permitted development), for flats and maisonettes, for commercial buildings, under an Article 4 direction, or where the look changes noticeably. Listed buildings need listed building consent.
Renovating more than half of a wall's area — insulating it, or stripping and re-rendering it — or more than a quarter of the building's whole external envelope brings in the energy requirements of Part L, so building control needs to be involved and the wall should reach about 0.30 W/m²K where that's technically, functionally and economically feasible.
Combustible materials are banned in the external walls of relevant buildings 18 metres and over (regulation 7(2)), and Approved Document B guidance also covers residential buildings with a storey 11 metres or more above ground. Higher-risk buildings go through the Building Safety Regulator.
Who needs to agree to EWI on a block?
The freeholder or management company commissions the work, but leaseholders usually pay through the service charge. In England and Wales, major works above the statutory threshold trigger the Section 20 consultation process before a contract is placed. We provide the specification and pricing you need for that consultation.
EWI for flats and blocks prices in Greater Manchester
| Item | Guide price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral wool system on a low-rise block | £110–£190 per m²0% VAT | Priced on survey |
| Scaffold and access | Priced per building | Includes licences where needed |
| Specification and pricing pack for consultation | Included with quote |
Confirmed by a fixed written quote after survey. 0% VAT: installing insulation in a home is zero-rated until 31 March 2027, so these figures are the total; 5% applies from 1 April 2027.
What happens next
Tell us about the property
Use the quote tool or form, or call. Photos help.
Free survey
We measure, check the walls and confirm approvals.
Fixed written quote
System, details, access, exclusions and VAT in writing.
Installation
Scheduled for suitable weather, with a clear programme.
Flats and blocks in Greater Manchester: questions
Can one flat have external wall insulation on its own?
Rarely. The outside walls are usually owned by the freeholder, the result would look patchy, and planning is unlikely. Whole-building schemes are the norm.
Who pays for EWI on a leasehold block?
In England and Wales, usually the leaseholders through the service charge, depending on the lease, and the landlord must follow the Section 20 consultation process for major works.
Do flats need planning permission for EWI?
Yes. Permitted development rights for external alterations apply to houses, not flats or maisonettes, so an application is needed.
Do you cover all of Greater Manchester?
Yes. We survey and quote EWI for flats and blocks across Greater Manchester, including Manchester, Oldham, Wigan, Bolton, Stockport.
Do I need planning permission in England?
For houses, external wall insulation and render are often permitted development where the finish looks similar to the existing walls. We check your address before quoting.