Planning approved - want to change windows

mrssarahh

Hi - can any planning type people help me out?

We are currently building an extension and (unfortunately) applied for planning just before the rules changed. We got permission OK, but we have timber windows and the application did state that we would put the same ones in the extension.

Now we're actually trying to buy them we could save alot of money by having upvc windows in the extension.

It is ground floor only, one window at the front and one at the back.

Would we have to officially apply to the council (and pay) to change the application, or (now the rules have changed and we wouldn't need permission anyway) could we just go ahead and put upvc in (the same colour as the timber ones)?
We're not in a conservation area or anything.
Any help would be appreciated before I ring the council!!

planning_officer

mrssarahh wrote: »

Hi - can any planning type people help me out?

We are currently building an extension and (unfortunately) applied for planning just before the rules changed. We got permission OK, but we have timber windows and the application did state that we would put the same ones in the extension.

Now we're actually trying to buy them we could save alot of money by having upvc windows in the extension.

It is ground floor only, one window at the front and one at the back.

Would we have to officially apply to the council (and pay) to change the application, or (now the rules have changed and we wouldn't need permission anyway) could we just go ahead and put upvc in (the same colour as the timber ones)?
We're not in a conservation area or anything.
Any help would be appreciated before I ring the council!!

The fact that the "rules changed" on 1 Oct 2008 will only make a difference to your question if your extension now falls under 'permitted development', thus not requiring planning permission from the council. However, in oder to qualify as permitted development, matching materials have to be used (and the legislation specifically states this) so you may have to use matching windows, otherwise the extension won't benefit from permitted development rights.

Otherwise, it depends on whether a condition was attached to your planning permission stating that matching materials have to be used - look at the wording of it as it may say that materials must match, or it may say that materials should be as specified in the application form/on the plans unless the council gives written consent to any variation (or words to that effect). If there is this leeway, then you should be able to ask the council if alternative materials can be used. Although it will depend on how well they match and what they will look like - will upvc windows look odd next to the original wooden ones?

mrssarahh

Thanks alot for your help - the wording was as you said.......so I rang this morning to see.
They said we can put upvc windows in and didn't need to even ask their permission and even if we just did it there is absolutely nothing they could do anyway!!
He said if we changed all our windows, we wouldn't need permission so the ones in the extension are no different.
Even if it is a conservation area they can only "discourage" you, and they can only actually stop you if its a listed building!
So we#ll be having upvc then!!

Thanks for your comments though - it gave me the push I needed to ring them!:T