Direct fit indeed. Might need to swap the terminals from the ignition switch (black red wire) if you're on a spade terminal to an eyelet (ring terminal) but other than that it's direct.

If you ring ford, the cold climate starter is about £220 and the normal starter is about £160 IIRC. About £70 ish off ebay or from a spurious supplier (motor factors). The difference is the size and you won't know unless they are side by side. Chances are that the cold climate starter was never fitted to many vans in the uk and it would have been an option. It'll be a rare thing.

I got one of these (same company and same starter LRS1627 although they turn up black in colour unlick the zinc colour in the picture).

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-TRANSIT-C...item3a584bea94