Shutters and leaky windows

[Ushy M]

Does anyone out there know whether listed building consent would be required to install shutters on a Grade II listed building?

We have a 350 year old stone cottage, facing north on top of a hill and the single-glazed windows are incredibly draughty. Last winter was our first in the house and some nights it was absolutely perishing! I've put thickly-padded curtains up, but it isn't enough. Double-glazing I know wouldn't be allowed, and I don't like the look of secondary glazing, so we're considering shutters. There are what look like hinge/bracket arrangments next to the windows on the outside of the house, suggesting it used to have shutters at some stage. Otherwise, I thought of installing them indoors. Does anyone any experience of this? (or indeed any bright ideas to keep the draghts out!)

 

[Gervase]

External shutters would require Listed Building Consent, and internal shuttering would probably qualify as well.
Your best bet would be to contact your local conservation officer, via the council's planning department, and take advice there.

 

[Penners]

I agree with Gervase.

If the house used to have external shutters then your CO might be OK with your reinstating them. However, I'm not sure how effective you will find external shutters to be against draughts. If the house never had internal shutters, you could have problems over consent for these.

So you may be faced with secondary DG as the only effective solution. This will often be allowed, provided it is sensitively designed - ie with the glazing bars in the same positions as the glazing bars on the primary windows.

We have secondary DG (installed by previous owners). I can't say it's a thing of beauty, but it's not that bad - certainly not as bad as the chill we would get from the exceedingly draughty old windows!

 

[biffvernon]

From the conservation of historic fabric and character point of view, I can't see that secondary glazing is particularly preferable to shutters. If t'were my house I'd be inclined to install both, whilst being mindful not to harm the existing structure. I don't see why listed building consent should be denied (or even required) unless were into total conservation mode. No electricity or running water then.

 

[Nemesis]

I assume draughtproofing has been tried?

 

[middi]

I agree that permission for external shutters would more than likely need the CO consent.

As long as no " hacking" of the existing fabrick is done I don't see a problem with you just going ahead and fitting internal shutters.

The problem will be more confined to the fitting and draught proofing of the shutters to be fully efficient.

 

[Ushy M]

Thanks to all for advice on this. I would have thought internal shutters might be OK from a LBC point of view, as they wouldn't affect the fabric of the house - i.e. they could just be taken down if required, leaving no trace they were there. Will take CO advice though.

Meanwhile, good news is we've got a date from our builder to repair our wonky and badly leaking chimney. It was leaking smoke through the thatch so no open fireplace for us since February - really looking forward to having it working again!