How could living in a conservation area affect me?

Since 1967, over 9000 conservation areas have been designated across England. In these conservation areas, the local authority is granted extra controls over demolition, minor developments and the protection of trees. In addition, local authorities can make even further restrictions under a 1995 legislation. These ‘Article 4 Directions’ can prohibit alterations depending on how they may affect the key characteristics of a building within a conservation area.

As you can imagine, included in the definition of ‘key characteristics’ is the style and detailing of doors and windows.

Key Characteristics

Doors and windows are some of the most important design features of a building, and they are publicly available for any and all passers-by to view and judge. As a result, it is almost impossible to hide the unsympathetic renovation of a property.

For this reason, it is vital that any replacements made are ‘like-for-like’. For almost all period buildings, this means replacing timber with timber. Timber windows prove to act as a fantastic long-term investment, effectively increasing the property value by keeping the traditional aesthetic, whilst providing the modern benefits of double glazing, such as increased energy efficiency, acoustic reduction and significantly increased security.

Alternate materials, especially plastics or uPVC, however, will not have the authentic appearance or character – small details will seem odd or out of place; the finish, the joints, the hinges. These small details will add up to create an entirely different final product – one which can be recognised as potentially illegal with great ease.

Plastic or uPVC windows and doors can also have a real and noticeable impact on the value of a property within a conservation area, due to both their immediate unsightliness, as well as the hassle and costs of replacing them with their more permissible timber-framed counterparts at some point in the future.

At Core Sash Windows, we can offer a wide array of timber-framed windows and doors, all available in a traditional and conventional style.

Getting permission

Obviously, we can never speak on behalf of a Conservation Officer, and the responsibility lies on the property owner to ensure that they have the correct permission before undertaking any alteration work in a conservation area.

However, having said this, permission is far more likely to be granted if you can prove that the planned alterations will not negatively impact or irreversibly change the ‘key characteristics’ of your property, or the surrounding area as a whole. For this reason, Core Sash Windows can additionally offer full technical drawings for any proposed works in order to assist in the planning application process, the fee of which will even be refunded if you go ahead with your alterations through us.