Businessman loses appeal to keep double-glazed windows at Fenland listed home

Peter Taylor lost an appeal against Fenland District Council’s enforcement action after a planning inspector said the windows give the Grade Two listed home in Chatteris a “very poor appearance”.

Inspector Graham Dudley said the windows in the 19th century terraced house in New Road are “of very poor design in relation to the listed building, unacceptably affecting its significance and do not preserve its special architectural and historic interest”.

The council approved enforcement action in June last year but Mr Taylor appealed immediately because a leaflet dated from 1986, when he bought the home, showed double-glazed windows fitted.

Mr Dudley acknowledged the leaflet showed modern casement windows in Mr Taylor’s house but sash 16-pane windows at the homes either side.

Mr Dudley also said: “The council’s records indicate that an application approved in 1989 for the windows of the adjacent property showed the original windows to be different at ground and first floor levels.

“This indicates that the estate agents wrongly recollected the date of the details handed to the appellant.”

Mr Taylor said he wasn’t aware the house was listed when he bought it, but Mr Dudley said the building was included in the register of listed buildings at the time and would have been available to him during legal arrangements at the time of purchasing.

Mr Dudley also said: “The shiny, precise finish of the plastic poorly contrasts with the finish of painted timber windows and the glazing bars on the front elevation are decorative only and do not divide the glass, which is a poor detail in this situation.

“The council identified the appeal terrace as being one of a relatively small number of this type of building and important to the character and appearance of the street scene.

“Overall, I conclude that the building is of special architectural and historic interest related to its age, design and group value.”