Mash

Hi all, thank you for the quick replies Thanks for the replies, very reassuring! If we were listed / CA, then she might have a point, but we're not. Good suggestion Alan. I'll have a chat to the builder and window companies to see how far into the order we can change the colour (if needed).

Hi all, New user, so please be kind! Been on a deep dive to find more information on this, but I'm going round in circles and just need to make a decision asap or it will disrupt the build timeline. Our 1930s detached house is not listed and not in a conservation area. We have white uPVC windows and want to change them to "mid-grey" aluminium / alu-clad frames. Righty or wrongly, I'm just not a huge fan of bright white window frames... I emailed the planners at the council who confirmed there were no Permitted Development restrictions on our street and that planning permission would not be required. However, that we could submit a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) "should we wish, for peace of mind". All of the houses in the immediate vicinity have white uPVC, but there are houses with new anthracite grey or sage green window frames in the surrounding area, including further down our street. As far as I can tell, none of them have submitted a planning application or LDC. So far, so good - we think we can just make the change under PD and not need to submit an LDC. However, we have a difficult neighbour about 10 houses down who enjoys making life difficult for anyone submitting a planning application etc. She has nothing better to do than curtain twitch and we're concerned that if she sees us with nice shiny (hugely expensive) grey window frames, she'll kick up a fuss with the council. I also understand PD legislation suggests replacement materials should be of a "similar appearance". How annoyingly vague. Is grey "similar" to white? Which grey? Surely it would say "the same as" if they wanted to enforce strict control? So, our options are: 1) Submit an LDC We get a definitive answer, but... They may disagree with the informal opinion of the planner in the email and suggest it's not PD. Could appeal the LDC if unfavourable, but with the lead time on windows we don't really have the time for this. So, we end up having to put in white windows. Potential to negotiate which "grey" during the determination process Seems massive overkill just to change window frame colour. No-one else in the area seems to have applied for an LDC for this. Capitulating to an imaginary complaint from a neighbour. 2) Don't submit an LDC The informal email opinion from the council says we don't need to submit an LDC Put in the windows we want, but "at (very expensive) risk" Live in constant "fear" of a nosy neighbour complaint, but... Can apply retrospectively for an LDC Can also appeal retrospectively if needed Can repaint the windows if we lose an appeal (though this is a last resort and we'd rather not) I keep bouncing from one option to the other. What would you do? Thanks in advance!

Hi all from the (currently) sunny south coast. We're embarking on a huge renovation, stripping a detached 1930s house back to the bones then extending and rebuilding it with better (working!) electrics, plumbing, heating, windows, doors etc. Very scary and exciting! Looking forward to joining the forum!