# Trusted tradesmen in Foxton > We can connect you with the one electrician, plumber, plasterer and carpenter we trust for jobs in Foxton, about 2.7 miles from Market Harborough. Almost the whole village is a conservation area, with mostly brick and some stone buildings, so it helps to use tradespeople who work carefully on older homes. Message us on WhatsApp and we pass your job on; we are not paid for recommendations. Source: Kuote, Market Harborough trades (https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/areas/foxton/). Updated 2026-11-11. Searching for tradesmen in Foxton? We're a Market Harborough family who renovated our own house, and we recommend one person per trade: the electrician, plumber, plasterer and carpenter we used and trust. Foxton is about 2.7 miles from Market Harborough as the crow flies, a short drive out of town. Send us a WhatsApp message with the job and we'll pass it to the right person. We're not paid for recommendations. We just pass you to people we trust. ## What Foxton is like Most people know Foxton for its locks. Foxton Locks on the Leicester line of the Grand Union Canal are ten locks arranged as two staircases of five, built in the 1810s and listed Grade II*. Next to them are the remains of the Foxton Inclined Plane, a boat lift completed in 1900 and now a scheduled monument. The village itself is older than the canal. For centuries it was a farming village, worked on an open three-field system until enclosure in 1770. The canal later drew people from farm work into the canal trade. ### The conservation area The Foxton Conservation Area was designated in 1975 and takes in almost the whole village. Harborough District Council describes it as following the oval loop of Main Street and Swingbridge Street, along with the land between Main Street and North Lane. The heart of the village is three roughly parallel streets: Swingbridge Street, Middle Street and Main Street, joined by cross lanes and tracks. The council describes the buildings as a mix of older and 20th-century houses, mainly in brick with some stone, with open spaces between them. So in Foxton a modern house and a listed cottage can easily be neighbours, and both are inside the conservation area. The parish also has a neighbourhood plan, made in 2021. ## Typical jobs for tradesmen in Foxton ### Older brick houses and cottages - **Electrics:** older houses often have wiring that has been extended bit by bit. If you see warning signs, read [signs your house needs rewiring](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/signs-your-house-needs-rewiring/), and if you are staying put while the work happens, see [rewiring an occupied house](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/rewiring-an-occupied-house/). - **Plaster:** solid brick walls in older houses may have lime plaster underneath later layers. A plasterer should check before skimming. Our [skimming vs replastering guide](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/skimming-vs-replastering/) explains the choice. - **Doors and skirting:** matching existing profiles keeps the character of the house. See the [skirting boards cost guide](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/prices/skirting-boards-cost-market-harborough/) and [internal door fitting costs](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/prices/internal-door-fitting-cost-market-harborough/). ### 20th-century homes Typical jobs are bathroom refits, [radiator replacements](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/prices/radiator-replacement-cost-market-harborough/), extra sockets and Artex ceilings. If an Artex ceiling went up before 2000, get it tested for asbestos before anyone sands or scrapes it; see [plastering over Artex](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/plastering-over-artex/). ### Conservation area rules to remember Because nearly all of Foxton is in the conservation area, some changes that are normally permitted development need planning permission, and you must give six weeks' notice before most tree work. Listed buildings need listed building consent for changes affecting their character. Read our [conservation area renovation guide](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/renovating-in-a-conservation-area-market-harborough/) before you start. ## The four trades we can connect you with - **[Electrician in Foxton](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/electricians/foxton/):** rewires, consumer units, EICRs and new circuits, done by a scheme-registered electrician (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA or Stroma) or signed off under Part P. - **[Plumber in Foxton](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/plumbers/foxton/):** bathrooms, radiators, leaks and outside taps. Gas work must only be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. - **[Plasterer in Foxton](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/plasterers/foxton/):** skimming, ceilings, patching and Artex. - **[Carpenter in Foxton](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/carpenters/foxton/):** doors, skirting, stud walls and fitted wardrobes. Message us on WhatsApp: https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/go/any ## Travel from Market Harborough At under three miles, Foxton is close enough to be a normal local job for our tradespeople. Further afield, in places such as [Oadby](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/areas/oadby/) or [Leicester](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/areas/leicester/), it depends on their availability. ## How it works Tell us the job, where you are in the village and send a few photos. We pass it on, the tradesperson contacts you, and the price comes from their quote. If you are comparing a few options, our guide to [directories vs a personal recommendation](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/guides/directory-vs-personal-recommendation/) may help. Nearby, we also cover [Gumley](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/areas/gumley/), [Kibworth](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/areas/kibworth/) and [Lubenham](https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/areas/lubenham/). Message us on WhatsApp: https://kuote.co.uk/market-harborough/go/any ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Foxton village a conservation area? Yes, almost all of it. The Foxton Conservation Area was designated in 1975 and covers the loop of Main Street and Swingbridge Street and the land between Main Street and North Lane. That means modern houses inside the loop are in the conservation area too, so check before changing anything visible from the street. ### How many locks are at Foxton? There are ten locks at Foxton, arranged as two staircases of five on the Leicester line of the Grand Union Canal. They were built in the 1810s and are listed Grade II*. Beside them are the remains of the Foxton Inclined Plane, a boat lift completed in 1900, which is now a scheduled monument. ### What are typical homes like in Foxton? Harborough District Council describes Foxton as a mix of older and 20th-century buildings, mainly in brick with some stone, with open spaces between. The village is laid out along three roughly parallel streets, Swingbridge Street, Middle Street and Main Street. Some older houses are listed, while others are later infill. ### Do I need planning permission for new windows in a conservation area? For a house in a conservation area, replacing windows like for like is often allowed, but changing their look, material or style can need permission, especially where an Article 4 Direction applies. Listed buildings need listed building consent for almost any window change. Ask Harborough District Council before ordering anything. ### Can your tradespeople come out to Foxton? Foxton is about 2.7 miles from Market Harborough, so it is a local job for our tradespeople. Send us a WhatsApp message with what you need and we pass it straight on. The tradesperson will contact you directly to arrange a visit or a quote, depending on the size of the job. ## Sources - [Foxton Conservation Area (Harborough District Council)](https://www.harborough.gov.uk/directory_record/1255/foxton_conservation_area) - [Foxton Conservation Area map (Harborough District Council)](https://www.harborough.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/1626/foxton_conservation_area_mappdf.pdf) - [Foxton Conservation Area (planning.data.gov.uk)](https://www.planning.data.gov.uk/entity/44009346) - [Foxton Neighbourhood Plan, made version Nov 2021 (Harborough District Council)](https://www.harborough.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/6915/foxton_made_version_nov_2021.pdf) - [Foxton, Leicestershire (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxton,_Leicestershire) - [Foxton Locks (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxton_Locks) - [Foxton Inclined Plane (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxton_Inclined_Plane) - [Foxton, A History of the County of Leicester vol. 5 (British History Online)](https://archive.british-history.ac.uk/node/15201)