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Our village centre is a conservation area.
One of the larger shops has bricked up one of their front windows.
It doesn't make any sense from a business point of view and surely must breach planning rules?
I know another shop got into trouble for replacing old wooden window frames with uPVC, this looks much worse to me!
Anyone know if this is permitted?
Shall I "grass" them up or just stop being a nosey bastard and let them be?
stop being a nosey bastard
The definitive answer from a local authority planning officer:
This is likely to require planning permission.
Will the Council take action? Depends whether it is on the "public interest" (ie is the amount of time /effort/money rectifying this worth it)
Should you report it? Up to you but I can assure you that there are lots of things that are seen by planning officers and go unreported....
I imagine the Conservation Area may have a local society/busybody group (delete as appropriate) - if/when they have spotted it then they are sure to have raised it with the LPA as if it is the end of the known world so I wouldn't worry too much.
Well the local planning officer closed a shop for swopping wooden frames with uPVC frames and not getting it rectified quick enough.
This was just after Storm Arwen and all the local trades with flat out with high priority repairs.
Took the local Councillor stepping in to get them back trading.
So they do act around here.
If it's an eyesore and out of place with the conservation stuff then I might consider doing something... if it's not bothering anyone or damaging anything then why bother.
Shall I “grass” them up or just stop being a nosey bastard and let them be?
I don't see why you wouldn't report it. If it's fine then nothing further will happen.
Probably worth checking if they have the necessary permissions before wading in. Your local council website should show this, or not, from a planning search.
Out of interest, could someone unfamiliar with the area tell that there used to be a window there? Conservationists often like an old building to show its history.
2am spray paint something on the brickwork. Sign it '****sy.'
Why not brick the rest of their wondows up?
That'll learn'em!
Pix or Brix
Why not put a window through their brick.
Glass bricks ?
The most STW thread this year!
Ooo get a glass brick cut it in half, epoxy it to the brick window. Art innit
Paint it to look like a window? Historic England seem happy enough with this one.
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1125135?section=comments-and-photos
Usually there’s a planning application notice stuck up on a nearby lamppost or drainpipe in a highly visible location, well in advance of any work being carried out. I often see them around my neck of the woods, and usually have a shufti to see what’s intended.
Paint it to look like a window?
Surely a fresh expanse of fresh wall is just crying out for a massive piece? Get the spray cans out!
But if there's no window, how will people see the precious things of the shop?
But if there’s no window, how will people see the precious things of the shop?
What the OP didn't explain, was that they're a brickgrocer. Sadly there's not many around these days, since the advent of out of town brick parks.