THE owner of a property caused 'substantial harm' to the area by replacing wooden window frames with plastic ones, a council has said.

A planning enforcement notice has been served on the owner of flats in Ulverston after work was carried out without council permission.

Replacement uPVC double-glazed windows were installed at the listed Gillam House at Gillam Yard but a retrospective planning application was rejected by the council.

South Lakeland District Council said the works caused 'substantial harm' and had no 'public benefit'.

The owner has now been told to reverse the works and threatened with potential prosecution if no action is taken. 

In the planning enforcement notice, SLDC said: "The works lead to substantial harm to this heritage asset and no public benefits have been identified that would outweigh this substantial level of harm.

"The Council consider that planning permission should not be given, because planning conditions could not overcome these objections to the development."

The eight uPVC windows on the first and second floor of the building need to be removed, the council has ordered.

They need to be replaced with copies of the original wooden windows with single-glazed panes.

The property owner has 13 weeks from October 19 to comply with the notice.

The notice added: "If you do not appeal against this enforcement notice, it will take effect on the date specified and you must then ensure that the required steps for complying with it, for which you may be held responsible, are taken within the period specified. 

"Failure to comply with an enforcement notice which has taken effect can result in prosecution and/or remedial action by the Council."

The planning application was submitted earlier this year and was knocked by the authority on September 1.

The delegated decision was taken by council planning officers.

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