Barrow Bridge: PVC windows could be allowed in conservation area

The streets around Bazley Street in Barrow Bridge are currently listed as a conservation area, with the distinctive country feel being used by film crews over the years. 

All windows and doors for houses in the area, including Barrowdene House, have to be made of wood. 

However, residents and councillors highlight that wooden fittings rot out in wet weather, causing them to need replacement more often than plastic equivalents. 

They say wooden fixtures also cost significantly more to repair and replace than PVC ones, and the plastic ones are highlighted as being more energy efficient. 

Some residents, however, did voice support for keeping the rule of windows and doors needing to be replaced with wood. 

Councillors have been discussing the proposition in a private policy group. 

Ward councillor Roger Hayes said: "There has been some movement on the PVC windows in Barrow Bridge. 

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"Policy group in favour, but the initial advice is that it may be illegal to allow the change because they are listed buildings. 

"I hadn't heard anything about this before, I would have thought it would have come out previously. 

"Looking at legal causes to see if there is any way around doing it. There is a lot of sympathy from councillors for the change." 

Barrowdene House, which has particularly large windows (Image: Newsquest)

He added: "The wood-effect PVC sample I took, in everybody in one meeting accepted it was very difficult to tell the difference between that and wood.  

"You can see a listed building with rotting wooden frames which looks awful, or you can see a building with PVC, in good condition, which would you prefer? 

"There are also cost issues, wood costs a lot more to put out in maintenance, and you can also have it replaced in PVC a lot more quickly. 

"We are looking at other listed buildings and the law isn't quite as strict - there are cases now where listed buildings have been allowed PVC." 

In December, The Bolton News spoke to Barrow Bridge residents about the proposed changes - they were mostly in favour of them. 

Cllr Hayes added: "We are also looking at maybe delisting, but a lot of residents wouldn't want to do that. 

"It is a balance of trying to make the place look as it should do, as it was originally, and making sure people aren't living in damp and draughty buildings. 

"These are workers' cottages, people living there are not wealthy."