OWNERS of 18th century Grade II listed Kent House, Chatteris, will be served with an enforcement order to replace 23 uPVC windows quicker than the 16 years they have suggested.
Martyn Kendall, conservation officer for Fenland District Council, says the owners initially agreed to replace the windows at a rate of two every three years then improved that to a rate of three windows every two years.
“At this rate, however, the replacement would take 16 years,” he said. “This was discussed with the legal section and was not considered acceptable to the council”.
His report to next week’s planning committee adds that “a replacement schedule of three years for the 23 windows, three satellite dishes and one banner sign is considered a more acceptable timescale”.
Mr Kendall says to reach a speedy conclusion he wants the committee to issue a listed building enforcement notice.
Kent House was formerly one large house but has now been converted to four flats. It was originally built by the parish as a workhouse from bricks made of clay from the Slade and fire locally.
He said the issue came to light following a survey in February when he came across the building “but found it was listed but had unauthorised uPVC windows”.
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