B5.2.1 Sensitive and characterful conversions

New openings (windows, doors, and rooflights) must respect the existing rhythm, scale, and proportions of the facade to maintain visual harmony. This includes avoiding floors cutting across them, where possible.

Exception: Well-considered departures from the existing pattern may be acceptable if it can be demonstrated that proposals enhance the building’s character, improve its function, or respond to a change of use, particularly in cases where the original design is poor.

If existing openings are to be infilled, the infill should be set back or differentiated to maintain the legibility of the original opening.

Town centre shops which are converted to residential use should be converted in a way to retain the commercial character of the original building whilst making them suitable for modern use.

Larger buildings, such as warehouses, mills, churches, chapels, former public houses and civic buildings, should be converted with an approach that celebrates their original industrial or commercial character while making them suitable for modern use.

This should be achieved by:

• avoiding intensive sub-division

• retaining original windows and doors, or replicating the original style, dimensions and materials

• retaining features such as shop fronts, signage and machinery remnants

• carefully locating domestic elements such as bin stores and gardens

Upwards extensions of existing buildings can be acceptable if justified in order for a scheme to be economically viable. To be acceptable, the upward extension must:

• be set back from the original elevation

• be no more than half the number of storeys of the original building (so one storey on a two storey building, two stories on a four storey building)

• use a different, but complementary, material to the original building

• respect the geometry of the original building