Replacing windows in conservation area scotland

Other areas have very strict planning laws — generally when historic buildings are present, and modern home improvements would have a detrimental effect on the identity of the area, and undermine the value of its properties.

Conservation areas exist to combat this phenomenon. They limit what can be built in the area and the changes that can be made to existing buildings. This serves to protect the aesthetics of the area and the value of its properties.

Since , more than conservation areas have been designated across England. In practice, they allow your local authority greater control over what can be thrown up and knocked down, including things like satellite dishes and trees. When a home is in a conservation area the only concern is how it appears from the street.

This means that brickwork, doors, and windows must be consistent. Exactly what this means is unique to each building but as a general rule, the internal structure of the building must not change and repairs and renovations must be carried out using original materials.

This will be the case if the property is subject to something called an article 4 direction — a special power that gives your local planning authority and in some cases, the government the ability to withdraw some of your permitted development rights.

In either case, the name of the game should be to replicate your current window as closely as possible. This might mean that you end up paying slightly over the odds — but the investment will prove worthwhile in the long run.

Double glazing works by sandwiching a layer of inert gas between two panes of glass. This severely restricts the flow of heat from one side to the other, increasing the energy efficiency of any given property.

But double glazed windows look different to windows with a single pane of glass. For one thing, they require a chunkier frame. For another, the glass tends to bend and bow as the atmospheric pressure changes relative to the gas inside the window. Remember — unauthorised work is a criminal offence, with prison sentences given to the worst offenders. The best case if you carry out work without permission is that you will have to pay a fine and pay again to make the alterations you have made compliant.

Local Authorities prefer repair rather than replacement of windows. Specifically, windows of historical interest should be made good with an accurate like for like repair carefully matched to the original item.

Like for like repairs do not require planning permission in conservation areas or in Listed Buildings. Altering or replacing windows does require planning permission. One of the defining features of historic windows is that they only have single glazing. By definition single pane windows are less efficient than their modern counterparts, and the age of the windows will mean they are probably leaky, draughty and noisy too.

This is sometimes overcome with the stop-gap solution of installing a second window on the inside. Sometimes it does become necessary to replace historic windows. The replacements should be as similar as possible to the original windows.

A window may still contain the original glass. Glass production has changed considerably in the last years, any panes from before the mid s will be hand made. These panes will be thin and contain imperfections that add to the beauty of them, but they are very fragile.

Any panes that have survived the rigours of time will be quite valuable — if you are replacing historic windows, be careful when removing them, they could be worth some money! Older windows are made from smaller panes of glass — usually 4 or 6 held together with smaller vertical and horizontal strips of wood.

After the middle if the 19th Century glass production made huge advances and larger, stronger panes of glass could be mass produced. The following types of development are not permitted by this class because they are permitted by other classes:. Planning authorities will be able to confirm whether a property is located within a conservation area. Information on listed buildings is available from: www.

It would also allow the painting or attaching of an advertisement to the property. While an application for planning permission may not be required by virtue of this class, an application for advertisement consent may be required under the Town and Country Planning Control of Advertisements Scotland Regulations depending on the nature and size of any such advertisement. For example, an existing 1. If the replacement fence is higher than 1.

Alternatively, if replacing a 0. Information on listed buildings is available from www. Information We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing experience. Accept all cookies Use essential cookies only Set cookie preferences. Do I need planning permission? Actions Make a planning application View planning applications Contact Got a question about planning?

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