Morning:
8°c
Historic streets 'at risk from ugly windows, TV dishes and neglect'
Louise Jury, Chief Arts Correspondent23 Jun 2009
Thousands of London's most historic streets are being "ruined" by plastic windows, ugly satellite dishes and poor maintenance in breach of laws designed to protect them, it was revealed today.
The first audit of the capital's conservation areas found nearly one in five is at risk of neglect, decay or damaging change as councils fail to apply the law. The national average is one in seven.
Heritage bosses today warn the credit crunch is likely to exacerbate the threat as businesses and homeowners struggle to find money for maintenance.
Nigel Barker, from English Heritage, said: "If you think of conservation areas that rely for their character on commercial or retail activity, given the uncertainty over the last eight to nine months, you can't be certain how they are going to be maintained."
So far 81 conservation areas in London have been identified as being at risk. This is the first time they have been added to the Heritage at Risk register alongside buildings, landscapes and scheduled monuments. The list is unveiled today.
Mr Barker cited Denmark Street, known for its independent music shops, off Charing Cross Road, as an example of an at-risk area but warned: "Ninety per cent of the buildings that were on the first at risk register 18 or 19 years ago are now off it. Putting things on a register helps focus people's minds."
Conservation areas were introduced by the 1967 Civic Amenities Act as "areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance".
Local authorities and English Heritage have the power to designate conservation areas. They then have control over demolition, developments, and protection of trees.
Residents must obtain permission before making changes which may detract from the area's appearance. These changes include types of cladding, inserting windows, and putting up satellite dishes which are visible from the street.
English Heritage found more than 80 per cent of estate agents believe original features add value to properties while 75 per cent think a well-maintained conservation area does so.
Heritage experts regard PVC windows as out of keeping with conservation areas - but only 13 per cent of conservation areas ban their installation. English Heritage also regards unsightly satellite dishes, too many street signs, neglected green spaces and poorly maintained roads and pavements as detrimental to the appearance of these protected areas.
A London Councils spokesman said: "London boroughs are forced to walk a tightrope between respecting conservation needs and ensuring the capital continues to develop as a modern city. Balancing these two factors can be extremely challenging, but local authorities will always do all they can to protect conservation areas.
"If residents are worried about conservation areas they should make their views known to their council so they can work together to preserve them for future generations."
London jewels In danger
Harmondsworth, Hillingdon
This conservation area, designated in 1970, is a medieval settlement originally set in open countryside and farmland.
It still has many medieval buildings, including Grade I-listed Harmondsworth Barn, dated 1426 but likely to have been built on earlier foundations.
Harmondsworth was mentioned in the Domesday Book. For decades from the Thirties its survival was safeguarded by inclusion within the green belt and because it was bypassed by the M4.
But the area is now regarded as at risk because of uncertainty caused by Heathrow Airport's proposed third runway.
It is argued that the setting and character of the village would also be considerably affected by the loss of much of the green land.
The Harmondsworth and Sipson residents' association is very concerned about the future.
Noel Park, Haringey
The estate, designated a conservation area in 1983, was influenced by the garden suburb movement but has suffered from extensive piecemeal alteration which has eroded its character, English Heritage says. Changes include the loss of original windows and doors and inappropriate roofing materials.
Rosebery Avenue, Islington
Alongside the beacon of success that is Sadler's Wells, the avenue is home to a couple of buildings on the at-risk register including Finsbury Health Centre and Finsbury Town Hall where there are question marks over future use. Concerns are compounded by some vacant properties and poor maintenance.
Denmark Street, Soho
This small street of independent music shops, near the junction of Charing Cross Road and Oxford Street, is regarded as being under threat in the financial climate. There are rotting windows at first-floor level and above, and the street is surrounded by development, partly associated with the Crossrail building works.
...and one preserved
Hampstead Garden Suburb, Barnet
The 5,000-strong residents' association is hailed as a textbook example of community engagement. It offers design advice for residents in the suburb in accordance with the progressive vision of Dame Henrietta Barnett, who conceived the model housing development in 1904.
Reader views (12)
The installation of uPVC is entirely different to wheelie bins, which could in theory be wheeled away or hidden. Windows are an integral part of a building's appearance and generally will not be changed for many years. Personally, I prefer wooden windows and would always try to replace like for like or retain originals. However, the Government's brainwashing that double glazing is the best at the expense of all other options is fuelling a desire to replace originals and I can see the temptation of cheaper uPVC alternatives. I cannot see this changing with the recent draft PPS15 on 'preserving' heritage assets. In some cases, uPVC can be sensitively done (for example sash varieties with moulded fenestration rather than flat plastic inserts) and designs are improving all the time. If these more sympathetic windows were promoted by trained salesman and authorities, rather than the cheap, assymetric and heavy framed pivot types, our conservation areas (and indeed other streets) would be preserved.
- Alex, London, 27/08/2009 15:12
Report abuse
My landlord recently had the original 1855 sash windows removed and replaced with U.P.V.C. The result is hideous; the appearance of the house is ruined. These original windows can never now be replaced. There was nothing wrong with the old windows - he just wanted to save money on painting. And all this in a so-called Conservation Area.
U.P.V.C. is ugly, unenviromental (produces dioxins in its manufacture) and is dangerous in a fire - dropping molten burning plastic and giving off highly toxic fumes(the recent Camberwell fire is an example).
We need to ban this revolting material before it entirely destroys the appearance of our streets and houses.
- Marcus, Lymington U.K., 23/07/2009 17:35
Report abuse
Luddism vs technorealism! A savage pack of roboethists seeking revenge and an outlet for pent up frustration moot these forums. Change is constant. Individuals are mostly egotistical when it comes to their castles and treat others as blots on the landscape.
- Maz, London, 23/07/2009 16:35
Report abuse
I can understand why people install upvc windows, they're cheap, low maintenance and energy efficient, the downside is that they're pig ugly. Historic properties are generally in very nice areas and cost a fair old whack, and frankly, if you can afford one then you should be able to afford the double glazed wooden sash replacements.
- Bob, Cheam, 23/07/2009 16:35
Report abuse
Around our way "Conservation Area" is an expression you might hear used by the local planning authority now and again, but only when they want to reject a proposal for some other reasons. There is a lot of unpermitted development going on in conservation areas and the use of pvc windows only falls foul of advisory planning guidelines. The trouble is that you can't get the council to enforce these guidelines to the letter because, with the exception of some prize area or two of obvious national heritage, they don't really support the concept of conservation areas. At a local level there is a lot of doublespeak about conservation areas, very often too much so for people to get their head around. There may be some tangible interest in local heritage but the planners and town hall don't want the public to get too proprietary over the appearance of an area. There lies the problem.
- Jeffrey, London, UK, 23/07/2009 16:35
Report abuse
We have a 150ft communications mast in our Conservation Area. It has equipment in breach of planning, which is totally ignored by Enforcement and Planning.
Lettera and emails are ignored.
If someone can help us, we would be more than grateful.
Our homes are blighted and nobody cares, although many people have been made aware of our plight.
This is far more serious than plastic windows, which can always be replaced.
This blight is adding to people's growing lack of care in an otherwise beautiful London area.
To summarise, please don't automatically blame residents.
Several MP's are aware of our struggle to be heard, along with Councillors and to reiterate, Planning and Enforcement departments.
Yet more equipment is to be added to the mast in the
future and a previously healthy area will be even more dangerous than it already is.
Even the great number of illnesses are ignored by those who should be listening, so why should even one resident feel the need to comply?
It is a very worrying and sad situation.
Our area is also covered by an Article 4 Directive.
- Margaret Foster, London, England, 23/07/2009 16:35
Report abuse
We can't all afford to live in twee secluded cottages in the Cotswolds. We need to replace our rotten, poor performing window frames with effective uPVC, even if that offends the sentimentalists. As LeCorbusier said "The house is a machine for living in".
The "objectors" usually do not live in the conservation areas that they would like to retain as a museum, but would prevent the residents from implemeting the enhancements that they need.
- Sean, Coventry UK, 23/07/2009 16:35
Report abuse
So Heritage experts regard PVC windows as out of keeping with a conservation area. It must be awfully dark where they come from, their heads being permanently up their own backsides.
Home owners et al are being caned for wasting energy. PVC windows certainly help reduce this, and in comparrison to official recomended wooden sliding sash windows cut down on draughts and are a damned sight CHEAPER. Home owners et al are also caned for not complying with Heritage/Council requirements in respect of conservation areas. Isn't it about time these bodies got their act together and actually show that they have done some joined up thinking. Most home owners in conservation areas have a hard enough job paying the mortgage, never mind SPENDING MONEY THEY DON'T HAVE satisfying the demands of some power mad little juggins in officialdom. We are back to 'its in the rules' senario!!!!! Locally we have had Pubs closed and houses sold because replacement windows were not in keeping with the area. i.e. PVC (but not white) where wooden ones were deemed correct, but you had to look damned hard to spot the difference from the street. These are the same wunch of bankers (spoonerism)that decry others when objections are voiced to new architectural designs that get pulled. Standards? only double ones!!!!.
As for the survey of estate agents, weren't they the profession that had a law passed to get them to portray property as it was, not how they wished to descibe it?
- Alan, carlisle uk, 23/07/2009 16:35
Report abuse
There are caves from the Neolithic period that would score higher on an Energy Performance Certificate than my property with its single glazed wood framed windows. But it's OK because I live in a Conservation Area!
- Charlie, London, 23/07/2009 16:35
Report abuse
I quite agree with Man U Fan - wheelie bins, additional street signs and street furniture, CCTV cameras, all those things that Council's install are far worse than carefully chosen PVC replacement windows.
- Nora, london,UK, 23/07/2009 16:35
Report abuse
Tell me about it. A neighbour is building an ultra-modern house in the conservation village where I live. The council is more interested in getting in more council tax payers than preserving the heritage of the village.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 23/07/2009 16:35
Report abuse
I class the march of the wheelie bin as worse than a PVC window frame. They seem to clutter front gardens and pavements, and look destinctly unattractive!
- Man U Fan, London, 23/07/2009 16:35
Report abuse
