Planning permission

[BrAndn3w]

I recently had new windows installed to the rear of my property in a conservation area. As they are not visible from the road I thought it unnecessary to obtain planning permission.
i have now received a letter from the council to say I need to apply for retrospective permission.. I didn’t realise it was an actual requirement but I’m surprised the window fitting company I used didn’t make me aware of this.

I have contacted them and told them I need plans and info regarding my property and the windows they supplied.. they have told me they can provide window info and drawings but that anything pertaining to the building is my responsibility, they are taking no responsibility for the fact that they installed windows which I didn’t have planning permission for.. why didn’t they check that we had this before installing? Surely they know the area as they are local and know that this would be needed.

they have just pointed me towards the part of the contract that says it’s my responsibility to make them aware if the building is listed or in a conservation area.. where do I go from here?

Most planning offices are quite helpful so I'd give them a call to discuss it.
Don't waste your time blaming the company, focus on trying to get retrospective planning permission.

I agree with the window company. It's your responsibility.

It is absolutely not the window company’s fault or responsibility. Stop trying to blame them.

Why are you trying to make the window company responsible for your house? Your house your responsibility your planning permission. you know you have a listed building and it takes all of 2 minutes to check online on your council portal to see if you need planning permission.

Ultimately it is your responsibility as the owner of the property to check if planning permission is required. How do the windows appear? I understand they are to the rear but are they in keeping with the front windows of the property and the rest of the character area?

I agree with the window fitters and with the advice above to concentrate on getting retrospective planning permission.

Their job is to fit the windows, not to deal with planning. It’s your job, not theirs.

You will be very likely to get planning permission anyway.
You need to point out your new windows are not visible from public places, that they are more energy efficient (quantify it if you can), and whilst not "like for like" are an improvement & in keeping with the area.

They wouldn't have checked about the planning permission because it has NOTHING AT ALL to do with them. You shouldn't have asked them to do the job until you had planning permission.

You apply for retrospective and go from there.
It was on you to apply, was in the contract you signed and therefore is nothing to do with the company.
Hopefully you will get the planning permission and all will be fine. I also live in a conservation area and you do have to be very careful with what you do.

It's not the window suppliers' responsibility. It's yours.
Before you apply retrospectively, I would do some research. Since you say the windows can't be seen from the road, do you think one of your neighbours has reported you to the council? Do any other properties in the area have the same types of windows as your new ones? I would consider hiring an architect to write the application for you as they know how to word things and how to meet the region's design stipulations. It would be more expensive to have to have them removed and replaced.

where do I go from here?

You apply for retrospective planning permission of course.

How did the council find out? Did a neighbour inform them?

I live in a conservation area, I called my council to ask whether I needed permission to build a garden office. I was told no. I built it. Turns out I did need permission. Thankfully the council took responsibility for the misinformation (I was really worried I'd have to remove the whole thing, including concrete base).
I submitted retrospective planning permission and after some anxious months it was granted.

Why would they know your house needing planning permission? I’m sure they do whole cities and further it’s not their job to know each house. It you as the owner.

There's no way a window company would know which houses are in a conservation area and which aren't. You, on the other hand, will have been told when you bought it and should have looked up what restrictions that placed on you.

Generally in a conservation area replacement windows need to look like the ones your have removed, I replaced single glazed wooden sash (that were horrendously draughty) with uPVC that looks like wood, but exactly the same sash style. It can depend on your planning department, some planning officers are more relaxed than others. It’s very different to works on a Listed building where regulations are much stricter.

It isn’t the window companies responsibility, this is 100% your responsibility so stop thinking about them and phone the planning office for advice of where to start if you are struggling. You made a mistake and that happens, don’t blame others for it.

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