Conservation Area - Windows Without Permission

mr_fishbulb

jsb1987 wrote: »

I agree that pvc shouldn't be allowed but I can't believe they can force you to live with paper thin windows, even if you are prepared to pay for timber framed replacements.

Any comments/advice/opinions would be much appreciated

I'm guessing the rules of conservations areas are different depending where it is, but I live in a conservation area and the rules around windows are they are allowed to be replaced with timber double glazing as long as the opening configurations are the same. No permission is needed if this is the case. However uPVC still needs planning permission. My council has a "Management Strategy" document you can download with all the rules. Have you checked if your council has one and if you have actually broken the rules (as you probably wouldn't have for my conservation area)?

littlerock

My house is in a conservation area "article 4" and we recently had two of the sash windows replaced with timber replacements which are the same as the originals because the originals were falling to bits. They were replaced by a sash window specialist and there was no suggestion we needed to get planning permission.

I expect we should have, technically but as we were replacing like for like, it did not seem an issue. I am guessing you are worried because you have replaced sashes with casements? Otherwise you need not worry. The surveyor will look at the state of the house and is unlikely to report nice new matching timber windows as defective or report you to the council for installing them.

Next door neighbour put in secondary double glazing a few years ago with no problems and generally double glazing is preferred now as it is warmer and more sound proof. I would not worry about it.

As for planning permission for an extension it is not needed provided extension is not ridiculously large as % existing house size (rules changed a few years back) see here http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/extensions/