Northumberland Homes Barred From Having A Conservatory

When you make the decision to have a conservatory installed one of the next steps required is to obtain planning permission. Planning regulations have been relaxed over the years, with only the odd proposal being rejected, so more often than not permission will be granted. However, that is not the case in a certain Northumberland neighbourhood.

The News Post Leader reports that several terraced streets in the former Wansbeck district of the county are banned from having conservatories built at the front of their property. This has led to Members of Northumberland County Council’s south east area planning committee asking for the decision to be overturned.

Councillor Jimmy Sawyer, of Ashington’s College ward, said: “One resident was refused because nobody else in that street had one. That’s absolutely ridiculous. That means everybody in that street can never ever have a conservatory.

“We cannot accept a policy where a person is refused a conservatory because nobody in that street has one. It has to be taken on merit. It beggars belief, to be honest.”

It does seem odd that because one person is refused permission to build a conservatory that it then means that the rule applies to a whole street. The reason given is because the relevant authority feels that certain conservatories fail to blend in with existing materials and roof angles.

But there is such a wide choice of conservatories nowadays that finding one to complement a home is easier than ever before. All it takes is a visit from a local home improvement company to assess which form of conservatory will best suit.

Exactly the same could be said when installing double glazing in Cumbria as there are designs for both traditional and contemporary properties, something for everyone. Let’s hope that common sense prevails.