A home owner has won his fight to replace the windows of his traditional Victorian home with plastic frames - but been told he must keep its original door.
East Lothian councillors described plans to replace the timber door of the house, in Gullane, with a more modern material as too 'radical' a change, amid fears it would lead other home owners on the street to follow suit.
However they agreed with applicant Stuart Durie that the 120-year-old windows could be replaced using UPVC after finding the differences to appearance minor.
Mr Durie appealed to the council's Local Review Body after planning officers refused permission to replace the seven windows at the front of his property on Hopetoun Terrace with the more modern UPVC.
Planners said the change of materials could set a harmful precedent, describing the attempt to mimic the original timber and sash frames as ‘contrived and unauthentic’
However Mr Durie's agent argued that refusing the change went against the council's own climate emergency declaration and pointed out it was hard to tell the difference between good UPVC window frames and original timber and sash ones.
He also argued the plans to replace the door, which the review body was told had its original ironmongery on it, would see the design replicated.
He said: "The door reflects the six panel design of the existing door but is much stronger. The detail difference are insignificant."
However members of the Local Review Body were concerned about the impact of replacing the door on the street.
Councillor Cher Cassini said: "To radically change the materials, especially with the door, would seem to contravene what we are trying to achieve."
Review body chairperson Councillor Jeremy Findlay agreed saying that the cost of replacing the timber window frames with like for like was prohibitive but he could not support changing the door.
However Councillor Andy Forrest wanted to refuse permission for the window frames as well expressing concern it would encourage other residents and create a "mish mash" of house fronts on the street.
The review body voted by two votes to one to grant planning permission for the new windows but refuse the plans for the door.
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