Planners clamp down on plastic window frames in Hove
Plastic window frames have prompted planning officials to take enforcement action in a conservation area in Hove.
Three enforcement notices have been served on those with an interest in 126a and 128 Church Road.
The plastic window frames that have been installed at 126a and 128 Church Road in Hove were fitted without planning permission.
Brighton and Hove City Council said: “The building is in the Cliftonville Conservation Area where sliding sash wood-framed windows are important aspects of the area’s character.
“Planning rules state that plastic or aluminium windows will usually not be acceptable within conservation areas.”
It added that the first floor offices of 128 Church Road have also been converted into a residential flat without permission.
Councillor Lynda Hyde, chairman of the planning committee, said: “Our officers are taking action on two different kinds of planning breaches in order to preserve the appearance of the properties and to retain office accommodation along Church Road.
“Replacing timber windows with UPVC replacements fails to preserve the character and appearance of the Cliftonville Conservation Area.
“Despite repeated requests from officers the owners of both these properties have failed to remedy these breaches of planning control which meant that officers were left with no option but to serve enforcement notices.
“Once again we urge property owners to seek advice from the council before altering buildings, particularly when they are situated in conservation areas.”
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PVC windows only last about 15-20 years and they cannot be recycled in this country. A truly ugly false economy that this council should be creating a specific planning guidance note for to reduce the knee-jerk resort to installing them.
Double and triple glazed timber and metal are available and rarely involve the loud blighting appearance of pvc.
I work within the PVC industry and I’ve two comments
The first is that the PVC industry fully understands the need to preserve the character and appearance of conservation areas so it is disappointing that this has not been upheld. The second is a response to the comments left my Ms Paynter, PVC windows last significantly longer than the 15-20 years and indeed well over 35 years. PVC does not degrade and requires little maintenance with respect to its use in window applications. In addition old PVC windows are being recycled in substantial quantities in this country and I would be happy to put Ms Paynter in touch with a number of recycling companies to demonstrate that this is now being done. In addition new PVC window frames are extremely well designed meeting very high standards and also with very low environmental impacts and now achieving very high BRE Green Guide A ratings.