- Decision
- allowed, 21 September 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: Elaine Moulton
- Authority
- High Peak (East Midlands)
- Appeal reference
- 6010311
- Application reference
- HPK/2025/0140
- Procedure
- householder
- Development
- Replacement of timber porch windows and doors with heritage-style composite uPVC
- Site context
- inside settlement, conservation area
- Green Belt
- No
- Framework applied
- August 2026 NPPF
- Determinative policies
- HE9
- Development plan policies
- High Peak Local Plan 2016 EQ6, EQ7, Buxton Conservation Areas Character Appraisal 2007
- Main issues
- conservation area
Summary
Heritage-style uPVC to replace the timber joinery of two side porches on a positive building in Buxton College CA. Allowed, with detailed specifications reserved by condition, so the CA would be preserved (DL ¶17). There was no consultation on the new Framework because its content "has not significantly changed" for this case (DL ¶3).
What made the difference
The rear porch timber was visibly rotten, so replacement rather than repair was justified. The Conservation Officer's objection was about missing specifications, not uPVC in principle, and a condition could cure that (DL ¶¶12–16).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| HE9 | pass | rotten rear-porch joinery justifies replacement; composite uPVC acceptable in principle; detailed profiles by condition; CA preserved (DL 11-17) |
Key facts
- Rear-porch timber substantially rotten or missing on site inspection; front porch replaced for consistency
- Manufacturer's literature showed thicker flat profiles than the plans, so details were reserved by pre-commencement condition
Sources
This note is one of the decisions behind the NPPF 2026 Navigator, which shows how each Framework test has been applied across all the decisions in the database. Also available as Markdown.