PAPER B2

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE - TUESDAY 3 APRIL 2001

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT SERVICES

LBC/8854R Replacement windows, Royal Yacht Squadron, The Castle, Cowes

SUMMARY

To report on the outcome of negotiations with the Royal Yacht Squadron, and the status of the appeal to the Secretary of State and recent inspection of the timber replacement windows.

OPTIONS

1. To accept the findings of this report and to agree that all the windows, bar the 16 windows which have to be changed under Phase 3 of the programme and are due to be completed by December 2002, are acceptable.

2. Not to accept the provisions laid down in this report and to proceed with enforcement action.

RECOMMENDATION

To accept the findings of this report and to agree that all the windows, bar the 16 windows which have to be changed under Phase 3 of the programme and are due to be completed by December 2002, are acceptable.

BACKGROUND

Members will no doubt recall the report to the Planning Committee on 11 July 2000 when it was reported that the Royal Yacht Squadron had agreed that they would insert the remaining 33 windows, the subject of the 1994 Agreement, in timber, to a design agreed with the Council as the Local Planning Authority. Prior to that the Conservation Officer visited the factories of the Franklin Window and Joinery Company in Leeds as agreed that the type and style of windows provided by them would be suitable in the Royal Yacht Squadron, with some minor recommendations as to the action of the windows, and the external fenestration. A letter to the Franklin Window Company of 24 July set out the detailed requirements of the proposed timber windows and these were agreed by the manufacturers.

A quotation dated 7 August 2000 for the detailed specification of the windows was accepted by the Royal Yacht Squadron on 18 August 2000, and site sizes were lifted by the manufacturers week beginning 16 October 2000 with a view to manufacture.

During November and December Franklin Windows attended at the Squadron, removed the offending UPVC windows, and inserted the approved timber windows, and these were inspected at various intervals during the two months of construction.

Owing to adverse weather conditions, the contract extended rather longer than had been anticipated, however, I am pleased to report that the quality, the construction and the insertion of the new timber windows was carried out in a very tradesman-like fashion, the windows are of excellent quality and the general time and trouble taken with the internal fittings to match the original as close as possible had been very successful and compliments the windows considerably from the inside.

At all times during the insertion of the windows the opportunity was given to inspect and Franklin Windows did not deviate from the agreed specification. On Monday 18 December 2000, the Conservation Officer made a final inspection of the final two replacement windows in the Salven Tower, one in the ground floor and one at first floor and these were found to be perfectly acceptable in quality and specification.

I therefore concluded at that meeting that all the 33 windows required to be changed under the Enforcement Notice have been carried out properly, and to the standard required by the Council. The Council's Legal Services Manager was advised that the Notice had been complied with in total. In order that there was no doubt as to which windows were concluded, a marked up drawing was prepared, and forms an appendix to this report.

As noted earlier there are still 16 UPVC windows to be replaced under the third and final clause of the 1994 Agreement, these are primarily in the Mansard wing and the compliance date for these is December 2002. It is recommended that these windows be constructed and installed by Franklin Windows (who carried out the 33 windows above) to continue both the type and quality throughout the building.

CONCLUSION

Some Members may recall that it was in April 1991 that the first indication of unauthorised insertion of UPVC windows in this Grade II* building was brought to the attention of the Council, and since that time it has consumed much time and energy of officers and consultants, to reach the satisfactory conclusion of recent months. I would suggest that the conservation principles of this Council, in that UPVC is an unacceptable replacement window in a listed building, has been thoroughly upheld, and this has continued the Council's 100% record in the refusal of UPVC windows in listed buildings, under application and also in enforcement for their removal.

This case has raised many issues not the least being the contention by English Heritage that perhaps major listed buildings should be divided down into historic areas, with different gradings on each area, however, I believe that having addressed this issue in the Royal Yacht Squadron it has proved to be cumbersome and unwieldy and will not be proceeded with. For Members' information, the grading of the Royal Yacht Squadron throughout including all buildings (the 1960's extension notwithstanding) remains at Grade II*.

As a final recommendation, I would suggest that in the summer of 2002 the Squadron be again approached with a view to agreeing a run-up programme for completion of the 16 windows, by the due date of December 2002.

D W JAGGAR
Director of Environment Services