Much of the City’s housing stock is more than 50, if not 100, years old and was originally fitted with timber windows. Regularly maintained, these can last for more than 100 years but, if not, they can become rotten, draughty and inoperative. Although timber windows are readily repairable, the trend has been towards complete replacement rather than repair. From the 1980s, with the availability of grant aid, many home owners carried out window replacement and this was followed with systematic window replacement in the Council and Housing Association stock. Although almost all windows fitted before the 2nd World War were of the sash and case type, window replacements have been of a variety of methods of opening, proportions and colour. In many tenemental streets this has resulted in a complete mixture of window styles, which destroys the characteristic uniformity of Glasgow streets.

REPAIR/DRAUGHTPROOFING VERSUS REPLACEMENT 

Timber sash and case windows are an integral part of any building’s overall design and in most cases have survived for more than a hundred years. This is in contrast to more modern materials such as PVC-u whose life expectancy is, as yet, unproven.

In its commitment to sustainability the Council supports the longer term best value of repairing original timber windows, as opposed to their replacement with PVC-u windows, which was previously seen as a cheaper solution.

Often the perceived problems with older windows is that they stick, are difficult to open and are draughty. The upgrading of existing windows and the fitting of an effective draughtproofing system is likely to prove the most cost effective solution to these commonly occurring problems. This can considerably reduce heating bills as well as reducing noise and dust. Specialist firms now exist which, as well as repairing or replacing the timber sections of traditional windows, will also hinge the windows for cleaning or painting and will install patented draughtproofing systems. Further information on these firms can be obtained from the Council.

This policy sets out the standards which will be applied when dealing with applications for window replacement in properties that are not listed buildings and not inside a conservation area.

For information relating to windows in listed buildings and properties within a conservation area, see policy HER 3: Design Standards for Listed Buildings and Properties in Conservation Areas.

REQUIREMENT FOR PLANNING PERMISSION 

Planning applications will be assessed against the following standards.

1. STONE-BUILT TENEMENTS 

If a comprehensive window replacement scheme has already been carried out in the block e.g. by the Council or a Housing Association, then the new windows should match the established pattern in proportion and method of opening. Consistency of colour is also desirable.

In all other circumstances, the new windows should match exactly the proportions of the original windows. This will usually have been two large panes of glass divided in a 50/50 or 40/60 proportion. The method of opening can vary from the original sash and case style. On private elevations, not visible from the street, an attempt should be made to match the proportions of the original windows but different proportions may be acceptable for the new window, if there is already a wide range of window style.

The colour of the new window frames should match in with the predominant colour in the block, which may be white, black, brown or green. If there is no predominant colour in the block, then a dark colour such as black or brown is preferable on red sandstone properties while, on yellow sandstone, white can be used as well as a dark colour.

2. POST SECOND WORLD WAR FLATS

This covers a range of properties from the isolated blocks of flats and Council tenements built in the 1950s and 1960s through to the housing associations new build programme since the 1980s. Both the public and private sector are now increasingly building flatted properties as free-standing blocks or tenement infills, and in areas of comprehensive renewal, such as the Gorbals and the forthcoming Glasgow Harbour and Oatlands. In these areas, considerable investment and communal effort has gone towards the built form with, often, innovative and high quality design. It is considered important that window design consistency is maintained in flatted blocks in these areas and also in tenement infills. When windows are replaced in these properties, they should match the proportions and colour of the original windows.

For all other post-war flats, where householders may pursue the installation of replacement windows on an individual basis, they should aim to reflect the existing windows in design and colour. If, however, the first window replacement proposes a different style of window from the original, then this will be accepted and will set the standard for all subsequent replacements in the close, or block, whichever is appropriate and which householders will be expected to respect.

3. 4-IN-A-BLOCK OR COTTAGE FLATS 

Originally most of these flats would have had the same window treatment: sash and case windows usually painted white. Many different window styles, however, have now been fitted, as flats have been sold off to individual owners. In some blocks none of the original window pattern remains.

Applicants will be encouraged to use a style of window which restores uniformity to the appearance of the windows of these properties. Alternatives will, however, be accepted.