Planning Application - 16-18 Coborn Road (PA/18/00116/NC)

Gateway Housing Association has submitted an application to replace all the [timber] windows (front and back) of its properties at 16-18 Coborn Road, E3 2DA with white U-PVC double-glazed windows. The properties lie within the Tredegar Square Conservation Area.

16 and 18 Coborn Road are the left two of the matching three properties in the above photo. Houses 20 (the red door above) to 28 are statutory listed buildings. Whilst numbers 14-18 are not themselves listed, the installation of plastic windows to two of the three properties will destroy the unity of this wonderful trio of properties and have a detrimental effect on neighbouring properties and the conservation area in general.

As is stated in the council's Management Guidelines for the Tredegar Square Conservation Area:

"One of the most significant qualities of the area is the unity of the residential terraces. Conserving this unity and cohesion is critical when planning any maintenance or repair works to buildings in this area. Where possible, historic features such as front gardens, railings or cornices should be re-introduced as part of any works."

Indeed, many properties in our conservation area have been required to replace UPVC windows with double-glazed wooden sash windows as part of the conditions of permitting development (e.g Mile End Villa in Grove Road).

Gateway Housing HQ lies within the conservation area itself, on the corner of Rhondda Grove and Mile End Road, and one would have thought they would appreciate the importance of carrying out restoration work sympathetically within their own Conservation Area.

The closing date for objections to the application is THIS TUESDAY 13th February. The easiest way to object is via the Tower Hamlets online planning portal. Alternatively, objections can be emailed to planningandbuilding@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Gateway has submitted a similar application for 108 Coborn Road which lies north of the railway bridge.