Agenda item

Removal of redundant projecting glazed shop front to south elevation and replacement with flush traditional casement style window with associated stonework. 

With the aid of a visual presentation including plans and aerial photographs, the Case Officer identified the site and explained the proposal and relevant planning policies to members. The application had come to the committee in 2023 for change of use. The occupants wished to remove the projecting shop front and replace with a matching window. The Committee went through the history of the shop and saw historical photos. The building was not a listed building but was in a conservation area.

Public Participation

Mr Roach addressed the Committee. He explained that this was now their second Northern Area planning committee meeting with regard to Old Post Office House.  In May 2023, Northern Area planning committee granted our change of use application from Mixed Use to solely Residential,

Since that change we have continued to maintain and restore this building. We are its custodians and have a huge responsibly to take care of the property and preserve it. Our application demonstrates our dedication to OLD POST OFFICE HOUSE and commitment to the conservation area.

Objectors have made the following three misleading comments,

UPVC window would not be in keeping with the Conservation area - There is NO mention of UPVC windows in our application

Removal of the Postbox -  Our plans clearly show the retention of the Post Box, it is of historical importance and it will remain within the fabric of our property

Works have started on the Frontage  -  NO works have commenced on the frontage of our home.

Objectors also state:

Loss of Shop Frontage destroys reference to the building being a Former Post Office

The 2019 Bradford Abbas History and Heritage information board, located just 18 mtrs from our house, does NOT include ANY reference to the OLD POST OFFICE HOUSE 

However, we have established a reference to the historical past of our home by the retention of the George V Post box and our home is called “Old Post Office House” The former use and association of our home within the village is clearly maintained.

Our application provides for the sympathetic restoration of the original Post office frontage, with a Flush Fitting Timber Window to match the adjacent window in style.  The removal of the modern frontage would provide considerable energy savings and have a positive impact on the Conservation area.

The OLD POST OFFICE HOUSE is a residential dwelling with a redundant modern shop frontage, which is NOT in keeping with the Conservation Area

Our restoration will greatly enhance and improve the appearance of the Conservation area

Cllr Legg addressed the Committee and was not arguing whether this property is or becomes a private residence as this matter was settled in 2023. There was an initial concern because the originally plan submitted did not show the retention of the post box which is a George V 1934 post box and there was concern that the removal of that would damage the historical reference to this building formerly being a post office and a local village store. He thought that the key issue was whether this renovation is carried out. The key issue was whether the historical reference for this building is properly shown by this particular window. If you look at the photographs that had been submitted, you can see a bloc work in what is described as a modern shop frontage. The blockwork which is shown in the photograph have a clear reference to buildings which are already in the village. There are only two in the village which are built with that style of blockwork at the base of the window. One of them was purchased by my parents in 1960 and I think this particular extension to the property was carried out in 1959 and 1960, so the problem is, is this a modern addition?  It is about halfway through the life of the building which was built in 1899. The key issue- looking at the paragraph- the proposed window would match the adjacent and respect the style of the window that was there previously then that is completely incorrect. He referenced the 1954 and 1965 photographs to see that was not true. He explained the the question was of the level of sill on the window, as it was a much deeper window on the original building.

Members questions and comments

• Cllr Rideout understood what the applicants were trying to do and Cllr Leggs comments. The new window does not replicate 1954 photograph, and it would be really nice if it did and to have a dummy door side by side to put it back to how it was in the past.
• Cllr Jespersen said that it was not a listed building, and it would add to the conservation area and not detract from it.
• Cllr Pothecary commented that it had to be sympathetically done, and that the post box remains. She had huge confidence that the gentleman would do it sympathetically.

Having had the opportunity to discuss the merits of the application and an understanding of all this entailed; having considered the officer’s report and presentation; the written representatives; and what they had heard at the meeting, a motion to APPROVE the officer’s recommendation to GRANT planning permission as recommended, was proposed by Cllr Jespersen, and seconded by Cllr Jones.

Decision: To grant planning permission subject to conditions set out in the Officer’s report.