Agenda item

Report of Specialist Advisor (Conservation).

The Group considered the report of the Specialist Advisor (Conservation) regarding window guidance, in terms of maintenance, repair and replacement.

Currently in determining applications for the replacement of windows through the planning process little guidance was made available. A review of the approach in respect of uPVC windows had been undertaken.

Following this review a document, appended to the report had been produced providing guidance to owners, applicants and other interested parties on the heritage values attached to the significance of traditional windows. Advice was also provided on good practice for the maintenance repair of these windows, including their wholesale replacement. Further details were contained in the report.

Following this meeting, the guidance document would be presented to Planning Committee on the 26 July 2016 for their comments before being presented to Cabinet on 16 September 2016 to authorise a six week consultation period. Any proposed amendments would then be presented back to the Local Plan Steering Group and Planning Committee before being presented to Cabinet and Full Council in February 2017 for adoption.

The Group praised the quality of the document and expressed their thanks to the Specialist Advisor (Conservation). It was suggested that the document add examples of plastic window applications that had been previously approved in Conservation Areas. It was also recommended that in addition to the document, a shorter version, highlighting the key points of interest should be produced for ease of reference.

NOTED.