While some extensions do not require planning permission due to Permitted Development, those that do often require lengthy processes.

Simplifying and accelerating the approval process can give homeowners greater confidence to invest in improving their homes as their needs evolve. By reducing delays and increasing predictability, these changes have the potential to unlock more projects that improve living space, comfort and energy efficiency.

At VELUX, we believe that enabling people to make better use of existing homes is an important step towards addressing housing needs in a sustainable way. Lofts represent a significant, often underutilised resource that can be transformed into healthy, daylight-filled living spaces.

We therefore support measures that make it easier to bring forward such improvements, while ensuring that quality, safety and design standards are maintained.

Developed in partnership with Guardian Glass, the technology is specifically engineered for roof windows — a far more demanding application than facades due to higher loads and structural requirements. It provides high thermal and acoustic insulation with a reduced CO₂ footprint, contributing to more sustainable buildings and improved indoor comfort.

This new technology allows VELUX to replace the space between glass panes with a vacuum that significantly reduces heat transfer. This enables excellent insulation performance within a much thinner and lighter construction compared to standard triple glazing. Instead of separating panes with argon or krypton gas, this solution uses a vacuum that effectively minimises heat loss.

As a result, the vacuum insulating glass achieves the performance of triple glazing in a slimmer, lighter design. A subtle dotted pattern created by tiny spacers between the panes is characteristic of this technology but does not obstruct the view. VELUX will introduce the technology in two variants: a single vacuum glazing solution and a hybrid version. 

Single Vacuum Glazing

The single vacuum glazing variant is an ultra-thin double pane design that delivers thermal performance comparable to triple glazing. By eliminating the third pane, this new solution is between 1.5 and 5 kg lighter per MK06 unit (depending on the full window construction), making installation easier.

In addition, it offers approximately 30% lower CO₂ footprint when comparing the insulating glass unit alone. A roof window equipped with this glazing achieves an impressive insulation value of Uw = 1.0 W/(m²K). The difference becomes clear when comparing thickness: this new glass measures only 11.5 mm, versus 26.4 mm for standard double glazing and 38 mm for standard triple glazing with similar insulation performance.

It will debut in 2026 in the UK and Ireland within the VELUX Heritage range, ensuring architectural authenticity is preserved while delivering superior thermal and acoustic performance for enhanced indoor comfort.

Vacuum Hybrid Technology

The hybrid version combines the vacuum double glazing with a third pane separated by a gas filling. This construction delivers outstanding thermal insulation and excellent sound reduction while lowering the CO₂ footprint. With a Uw value of 0.83 W/(m²K) and a sound insulation rating of 38 dB, the hybrid solution offers high energy efficiency and acoustic comfort, comparable with the company’s most efficient glazing, IGU 67, with reduced carbon emissions by 5% compared with a full roof window and by 12% compared with the glass alone.

A launch date for the German market has not yet been set. Depending on project interest and availability, VELUX expects to expand the offering to additional European markets.

Background Information

VELUX began testing vacuum insulating glass more than 20 years ago and introduced early versions to the German market. While promising, demand for ultra‑low U‑value products was lower at the time, and performance advantages were not yet significant enough compared to standard triple glazing.

Since then, vacuum glass technology has advanced considerably in durability and performance, especially in facade systems. Tempered glass is now used for greater resilience, sealing methods have improved vacuum integrity, and closed absorber systems remove residual and released gases.

Building on this progress, VELUX spent the past decade developing vacuum insulating glass technology and, since March 2024, has continued development through partnership with Guardian Glass. Improvements include a fully tempered glass solution with fewer supporting spacers between panes — enhancing insulation — and the ability to achieve lower Ug values than standard triple glazing‑ with the hybrid solution. Single vacuum glazing now enables ultra-thin double pane units with sleek profiles and comparable performance to conventional triple glazing.

This year, find new ways to improve your home office and incorporate 2022s hottest new trend ‘biophilic design’ to enhance your wellbeing and boost your mood. Biophilic design is the name given to decor that mimics nature and is said to offer healing properties. When renovating or redecorating consider incorporating natural elements such as, access to daylight through additional windows space, staircase gardens, floral ceilings and living walls, to transform your working space.

1. Opt for colours and materials that are inspired by nature

Tapping into materials found outside such as wood, stone and wicker will make your space feel more rustic, cosy, and light filled. Choosing an ‘earthy’ colour scheme will make the connection from the outdoors to inside seamless. Why not opt for the Golden Hour wallpaper from the new VELUX x Poodle & Blonde ‘Magic Hours’ wallpaper collection. The wood-grain print features a signature light-reflective texture to optimise light throughout your home – and the feature colours are proven to aid productivity as you continue to work from home.

1. Maximise natural light in your home

When merging the outdoor elements with your interior, it's important to also think laterally, embracing the outdoor views and light from above can be equally as important as the space around you.  VELUX roof windows capture the trees and green spaces surrounding your home whilst making the most of daylight in your home. Not just a nice to have, research shows a view of nature has proven restorative benefits to wellbeing, resulting in improved mood and reduced stress.

While two fifths (41%) of homeowners agree that products should be made sustainably, the reality is that our interior tastes can be fickle. In the UK, over one in ten (13%) of homeowners buy new furniture at least once a year, and a further three in ten (30%) do so at least once every three years.

During the pandemic, Britons have spent billions of pounds on home improvements[1] with the trend cycle for interiors getting shorter. While consumers are increasingly aware of terms such as, fast fashion, there is a need for more transparency about the impact that home renovations, such as selecting a paint or replacing a bathroom can have on the environment, to help make consumers make choices that are right for them.

For those that do keep sustainability in mind when renovating and decorating, the majority (75%) try to reuse items in their homes, over half (58%) try to upcycle, and almost half (49%) purchased vintage or second-hand items. With trends such as upcycling becoming increasingly popular it’s crucial that consumers can purchase durable and well-made furnishings that can stand the test of time and not cost the earth.

Jim Coates, Marketing Director, NWE commented: "We all deserve to live in comfortable homes designed to our taste, but home transformations don’t have to cost the earth. The findings show there’s more to do to help homeowners make considered choices. Understanding a product’s durability and how materials are sourced responsibly can mean our design choices have a longer-term benefit to our planet. Last month’s COP26 conference has shown we all need to act, to tackle the climate and nature crisis together – this includes our home renovations and decoration.”

The research comes following the launch of VELUX’s long-term sustainability strategy. By 2030, 50% less CO2 will be needed to manufacture a roof window, and the packaging will be plastic free, and made of 100% recyclable and single material. New features will make VELUX’s roof windows smarter and it’s working with FSC and PEFC certified forest partners to ensure the protection of biodiversity and that new trees grow in the forests it sources wood from.

As most people spend more than 90% of their time indoors, this goes beyond aesthetics. Injecting more daylight into a room can massively transform a space and home renovations provide a great opportunity to bring more daylight into the home as well as improving the air quality – both of which are known to improve wellbeing. VELUX roof windows can also be installed at any point in time, it’s not reliant on a renovation. A VELUX roof window can last over three decades and can be upgraded as needed, to create wellbeing for people every day, all year round.

Interior trends may come and go – but daylight design is a lasting trend, and a sustainable choice people can feel good about.

-ENDS-

About The VELUX Group:
For the past 80 years, the VELUX Group has created better living environments for people around the world, making the most of daylight and fresh air through the roof. Our product programme includes roof windows and modular skylights, decorative blinds, sunscreening products and roller shutters as well as installation and smart home solutions. These products help to ensure a healthy indoor climate, for work, learning, play and pleasure. We work globally – with sales and manufacturing operations in more than 40 countries and around 11,500 employees worldwide. The VELUX Group is owned by VKR Holding A/S, a limited company wholly owned by VILLUM FONDEN and the Kann Rasmussen family. In 2020, VKR Holding had total revenue of DKK 22.6 billion and THE VELUX FOUNDATIONS donated EUR 142 million in charitable grants. 

For more information about VELUX Group, visit velux.com

[1] Suban Abdulla (2021). Brits spend £110bn on home improvements amid pandemic property boom. [online] Yahoo.com. Available at: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/property-coronavirus-housing-market-boom-home-improvements-stamp-duty-holiday-rishi-sunak-160026078.html [Accessed 8 Nov. 2021].