Owner of 18th century house in Ormiston conservation area loses appeal over UPVC windows despite cold

The owners of an 18th century village house have lost their bid to replace traditional timber window frames with UPVC despite sympathy for their “cold” location.

The owners of the property at Marketgate, in Ormiston, East Lothian, had initially been given the go ahead to replace the windows and door frames of the house after agreeing with planning officers that timber frames would be used for the sides of the house visible to the main road.

However they submitted a new application asking to be allowed to replace all the windows using the UPVC frames which has been rejected after planners said the main street facing part of the house was an “intrinsic part” of the village’s conservation area.

And a meeting of East Lothian Council’s Local Review Body last week unanimously rejected an appeal by the owners ruling the change of material would be out of character with the local area.

Councillor Neil Gilbert, review body member, told the meeting following a visit to the house: “It was quite obvious this was a conservation area, the history is there for all to see. The windows and door in question are easily viewable from the street or public footpath.”

Chairing the review body Councillor Andrew Forrest said the historic property was “so blatantly in your face” that a change of materials would be visible.

And Councillor Donna Collins said despite sympathising over the weather in the village she could not support the appeal.

She said: “I was a bit conflicted because I know how cold Ormiston can get in the winter time. They are trying to make it look similar but it is a listed building, a historic conservation area. I think turning it into UPVC will affect the character.”

Rejecting the new proposals from the applicants, officers had said: “The southern part of Markegate, which includes the applicant’s house comprises a group of former agricultural buildings that have been converted to housing.

“These houses and buildings are readily available from Main Street, are of traditional character and appearance and make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of Ormiston Conservation Area.”