Agenda item

Copies of the following papers attached:-

          CONTINUATION OF REVIEW 22/00034/RREF 

With reference to paragraph 6 of the Minute of 21 November 2022, the Local Review Body continued their consideration of the request from Mr Robert Muir, c/o Ferguson Planning, 54 Island Street, Galashiels to review the decision to refuse the planning application (retrospective) for replacement windows and door at Caddie Cottage, Teapot Street, Morebattle.   The supporting papers included the Notice of Review (including the Decision Notice and Officer’s Report); additional information; objection comments and list of policies.  Members noted the concerns of the Appointed Officer over the frame thickness of the replacement windows and door, particularly the ground floor bay window and upper floor casement window.  They also noted that within the Conservation Area, Policy EP9 set a general requirement for proposals to protect and enhance character and that within Prime Frontage parts of the Conservation Area, uPVC could be allowable, provided the surrounding context was not predominantly timber sash and case and the pattern and dimensions of replacement glazing were matching.  The Members had found the site visit very helpful and had noted the surrounding context was of mixed window styles and materials and that there was no predominance of timber sash and case in Teapot Street, but instead several examples of uPVC in the immediate vicinity which provided a matching context for the replacement windows and for this reason, they considered that the alterations did not result in the property becoming incongruous in the Conservation Area and that the windows and door were an appropriate fit for the character of the building and the Prime Frontage part of the Conservation Area.

DECISION

AGREED that:-

(a)          the request for review had been competently made in terms of Section 43A of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997;

(b)          the review could be considered without the need for further procedure;

(c)          After considering all relevant information, the Local Review Body concluded that the replacement windows were consistent with Policies PMD2 and EP9 of the Local Development Plan and Supplementary Planning Guidance on Replacement Windows and Doors and that there were no other material considerations that would justify departure from the Development Plan.

(d)       the officer’s decision to refuse the application be overturned, for the reasons detailed in Appendix III to this Minute and subject to conditions.