Recent Consent Achieved through the Appeal Process

Grade II Listed Building in Weedon, Northamptonshire

A client in Weedon, Northamptonshire wanted to make a window at the back of her Grade II listed house into twin doors to improve the amenity value of the kitchen. The window in question is shown on the above photograph on the ground floor to the left of the rear brick extension.

The council had refused consent on the basis that the modern twin doors would be visually intrusive, harming the building’s architectural significance.

However, the Appeal Inspector (in a Decision Notice dated 22 February 2017), agreed with my original assessment of the scheme, taking the view that both the principle and the appearance of the inserted doors were acceptable as they appeared low-key and appropriate to their setting.

The Inspector considered that the building’s special interest and significance (i.e. the reason why it was listed) related primarily to its prominence in the street-scene and the integrity of its original core, and, therefore, came to the conclusion that the works proposed to the rear did not impact upon these factors, thereby successfully preserving the building’s special architectural and historic interest.

As a result, the client has provided the following testimonial:

‘Alex provided advice and a Heritage Statement to support our application and successful appeal for replacement doors on a Grade 2 listed farmhouse. He has extensive experience of historic building conservation and planning policy which helped us to win the appeal on what was, unexpectedly, a contentious listed building application. I would strongly recommend Alex’s professional planning and conservation services’.