Possibly wind burn or dryness? I would have said wind burn won't recover but a local hedge actually did.

So it's not a fungus of any kind?

Not a fungus. The other thing that can cause that 'burnt' look is cats. Tom cats spray, and can get up to quite a height off the floor, but yours looks more like the plant either got a bit dry at some point, or, believe it or not, soggy and wet over winter and suffered as a result. Browning off like that after either drought or too wet can take months to show, so the damage could have been done April or earlier. It's in a pot, I think, isn't it? Ensure it's always well watered, but importantly, stands just off the floor so it's well drained, too

I agree with earlier comments. The tree unfortunately will never regrow leaves where they are currently brown so it would be best to throw it out and start again.

If the roots of conifers(or heathers) get dry even once they will die but this can be a slow process taking a month or so after the dry period for foliage to even begin to look sad

Yes it has had a period of no watering as I was in the process of moving homes. I wouldn't have the heart to throw it out. Would the dead needles eventually fall off or would it stay like this permanently?

The dead needles will eventually fall off and it wouldn't surprise me if the whole plant dies. there looks to be a similar tree in the back ground of your photo.

Compare the leaves on that with the still good leaves on the sick conifer. If the sick conifers "good" leaves look more washed out and less green then they will turn brown too.