An historic golf clubhouse has won its fight to install UPVC windows after councillors branded the current frames 'ugly.'
Musselburgh Old Golf Club's clubhouse currently has aluminium frames on windows and a door, which the club wants to replace.
However East Lothian planning officers rejected the use of UPVC in the Category B listed building which they said would neither "preserve nor enhance" the 19th century building on Balcarres Road in the town.
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At a meeting of the council's planning committee this week officers said listed building consent had already been granted for the club to replace the frames with timber.
However Brian Weddell, representing the club, said it had come to their attention that other planning applications in the county had been granted permission for the UPVC.
He told the committee the building which was built in 1873 by the Royal Burgess Golfing Society is an “authentic and period golf clubhouse from its time.”
He said the club took it over in 1995 and restoration work has been ongoing with replacing the windows the next phase.
He said that since applying to replace them with timber frames the club had become aware of other cases where people had been allowed to install UPVC windows, which had been reported in the local newspaper. And he pointed out that a number of properties locally already had UPVC windows.
Urging councillors to disregard the officer's recommendation to refuse permission for UPVC frames, he said: "In 2019 East Lothian Council declared a climate emergency and has made a significant commitment to tackling the causes of climate change.
“This revised planning application represents an opportunity to support a local organisation, which is seeking to upgrade its property in a way which contributes to achieving a more sustainable building with lower maintenance costs while contributing to the council’s objectives to reduce green house emissions.”
Head of planning Keith Dingwall pointed out that in other cases where the plastic frames had been allowed the buildings were not listed.
Councillor Cher Cassini, local ward member said: “Wood is infinitely preferable but it is costly and requires maintenance, UPVC to the untrained eye you can’t really see the difference.
“I sympathise and considering we want to get to net zero I would support them being allowed to put UPVC in."
And fellow committee member Neil GIlbert said: "To me modern UPVC windows are virtually indistinguishable from the wooden alternative. Any replacement windows in this building would be an improvement.”
Committee member Councillor Jeremy Findlay said if they were being asked to allow a change from tmber to UPVC it might be different.
But, he said: "We are going from fairly ugly aluminium windows to UPVC.”
And planning convenor Councillor Norman Hampshire said: "It is quite clear the windows in that building detract from the beauty of it.
"If we are not able to support this application it is likely the windows currently in there will not change.”
The committee unanimously agreed to reject officers' recommendation and approve the change to the frames.
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