APPENDIX 2

Early 20th Century School

Edwardian Villa

1930s “Semi”

Mid-century Terrace

Georgian Terrace

Victorian Cottages

Victorian Villas

Front facing gables, articulated façade, and bay windows

Building types vary from Georgian townhouses in the centre, Victorian and Edwardian terraces and villas in the inner suburbs to a range of mid-20th century and later buildings further from the centre.

The Windsor part of the RBWM Townscape Assessment gives a very detailed analysis of building types in the area.

Steep gables, pitched roofs, bay windows, articulated front elevations of varying depths, and well-proportioned windows are all common.

Good design will take references from nearby buildings which contribute positively to the surrounding area, not just from the Georgian and Victorian styles found in the inner areas.

Brick buildings predominate in the NP area. Stone is rarely used except for churches, and decorative features such as window and door surrounds.

Reclaimed bricks

Using reclaimed old bricks will often be the most appropriate solution for an extension to an existing property.

London yellow stock bricks (as above) and red clay facing bricks are the most common.

Two examples of modern factory made bricks designed to look like hand made bricks.

An alternative especially for new infill developments may be good quality modern bricks designed to have the varied appearance and different colours of handmade bricks.

Whatever bricks are chosen, the golden rule is to think carefully about what will blend in with the surrounding properties. This will be especially true where the whole area is built of the same materials when an infill of contrasting materials could be an eyesore. In areas where there is a variety of wall treatments then the choice for new buildings will be wider.

Typical old style brick bonding.

Replicating the older brick bonds designed for solid brick walls with headers and stretchers can be difficult to achieve with modern building methods but will give the most appropriate results for extensions to older buildings and can be used effectively for garden walls.

String courses and decorative brick panels.

Adding interest and detail with contrast brickwork.

The composition of building elevations can frequently be enlivened by the introduction of plinths, cornices, string courses and decorative brickwork panels, all very common in Windsor.

Mock Tudor timberwork.

Attractive stone detailing.

Stonework is often used for window surrounds and adds interest.

Stucco.

Modern stucco echoing the form of nearby buildings.

Stucco is a common finish in inner Windsor.

Plaques and other decorative details.

Terracotta is common in inner areas.

Even this small plaque adds interest and shows that the developer is proud of the building.

Carefully thought out plaques and small decorative details can add interest and variety and do not necessarily have to copy those nearby but could add a contemporary twist or a play on nearby details. If decorative features on a building to be developed cannot be kept in situ, consider reusing them elsewhere.

Victorian slate roof with chimneys and decorative ridge tiles.

Steeply pitched roofs with curved barge boards.

Roof lines are almost universally pitched, often steeply so, and features such as decorative ridge tiles, finials, chimneys and gables frequently create a varied roofline.

New buildings should create interesting roofscapes which carry echoes of features such as gables, steeply pitched roofs and decorative tiles.

Edwardian red clay tiled roof with roof finial and prominent chimneys.

Block of flats with sympathetic roof lines.

If there are no fireplaces then there are no chimneys and thought needs to be given to ways of creating interesting roofscapes in the absence of chimneys.

1930s house with prominent projecting front facing gable.

Tiled roof on infill property with similar pitch to surrounding buildings.

New developments could also reference mid-20th century buildings where appropriate.

Mid-20th century 1950–1960 with hipped roof and central single chimney.

Slates

Modern slate roof

Traditional roof finishes are natural slate and orange-red-brown plain clay tiles. Flashing details should ideally be in lead for good looks and long life.

Natural materials should be used wherever possible and are key to creating a positive character in the area.

Other roofing materials such as replica slate tiles may be acceptable in new developments outside the inner area.

Clay tiles

Modern clay tiles

Decorative barge boards on Victorian houses.

A modern house with barge boards and finial.

Decorative barge boards are common in inner areas and do not have to be white.

Decorative details work best in good quality natural materials which will last.

Some examples of the many attractive entrances to be found in the NP area.

Decorative brickwork creates interest

Recessed door and stuccoed arch give this entrance dignity and presence.

The NP area has a great many attractive building entrances in a variety of styles, which make a great contribution to its varied and interesting architecture and the sense of place.

In the inner parts of the town in particular, wooden doors in traditional style are to be preferred.

Entrances which are set into the façade add interest and variety.

Well detailed entrance treatments would be particularly welcomed in new developments.

Porch examples from around the area.

Flat development with portico style porch.

Modern porch, simple but effective.

In appropriate situations porches can add an element of interest and variety, especially to a uniform streetscape.

Different styles of windows from around the area.

Modern windows with acceptable proportions; some would be better if further inset into the façade.

Wooden sash windows predominate on street frontages in inner areas. Wooden casements were installed in most early to mid-20th century buildings, although many have since been replaced with modern UPVC windows.

Proportions are important, and new buildings should generally have windows that match the proportions of neighbouring properties. This is especially important for infill developments in uniform streets. Where uniformity is not the case, more variation will be acceptable. Infill in inner areas should preferably have wooden windows.

Taller windows to the ground floor help to maintain balance and harmony.

Bay windows—square, angled, or round—are common and create an attractive feature.

Windows inset into the façade or protruding from it add depth and interest. Even a small inset or projection can have an enlivening effect.

Dormer on a Victorian house, possibly a later addition.

Modern dormer on a bungalow in sympathetic materials.

Rear dormer on a Victorian cottage.

Dormer windows to the front elevation are not a common feature of the NP area and will rarely be appropriate additions to existing buildings, apart from bungalows. They occasionally occur on Victorian and Edwardian villas. Nearly all those on the Victorian terraces are later additions. Most early dormers are subservient features which do not dominate the roofscape.

Many new developments have used dormers to achieve a third living floor, and often these are over dominant and discordant. The Borough DG provides guidance on the acceptable design of front dormers (page 104).

Rear dormers are common and will rarely require planning permission. In terraced houses they usually span almost the whole of the house.

L-shaped dormer covering most of the rear projection of a Victorian cottage.

L-shaped dormers have become increasingly common at the back of terraced cottages with rear projections and, depending on the size and whether the house has already been extended, may not need planning permission. They can cause issues of overlooking and overbearing and, if visible from the public realm, are likely to have a discordant effect on the street scene and an adverse impact on character. They should normally not cover more than half of the rear projection of the property.

Traditional Victorian tiled entrance path

Stone sets

Gravel

A variety of surface treatments, all attractive and appropriate.

Stone paving from an inner development in a conservation area.

Concrete paving in muted colours which lets water percolate through.

Paths and paving should be appropriate to their setting.

In the more formal urban setting, tiles, setts or stone paving are appropriate but should still be relieved by areas of planting.

Large uniform areas of hard landscaping should always be avoided. Areas of hard surface are greatly improved by being broken up with planting or by gravel or pebbles where planting is not appropriate.

In outer areas, especially in the Clewer Corridor, where the aim is to retain a rural feel to the corridor, gravel is an appropriate surface treatment where grass is not suitable. It can be an attractive and environmentally friendly solution either on its own or in conjunction with limited hard standing or vehicle tracks.

Parking areas, especially those fronting the street, should be designed to minimise impact and landscaped to soften the areas of hard surfacing. They should comply with the Borough Design Guide.

Recent developments with landscaped parking.

Typical inner area boundaries

Modern railings with planting behind

Common boundary treatments are stone or brick walls, iron railings and hedges. In some parts of the outer suburbs, gardens are open with lawns providing the transition from private to public space. New developments should retain, replace or create attractive boundary features in keeping with these examples.

Housing estate with open boundaries

New hedge

The importance of green gardens and boundaries cannot be overstated, and every effort should be made to retain or create some greenery, especially at the junction with the street.

Typical wall from mid-20th century development

New wall built with reclaimed brick. Some shrubs would improve it further.

Landscaping should consider future maintenance and plant for the longer term. Hedges and shrubs need space to grow, and planting should leave adequate room for plants to mature.

Guidance on suitable species is in the Townscape Assessment.

Picket fence

New wall with low maintenance planting

Low walls, railings or picket fences can be backed with planting to create a green backdrop.

Sensitive conversion of old college residence

And of religious buildings

Old on the right, new on the left – similar mass and impact and good separation.

New flats designed to look like a large house.

Using different levels, setbacks and heights, and landscaping to reduce bulk.

Most of Windsor’s flat developments are infill and can look massive beside neighbouring properties. New flat developments (or other large developments in residential areas such as hotels or clinics, etc.) should be sensitive to the size and plot patterns of surrounding houses.

Particular care should be taken to leave space between buildings and for trees and other mature green landscaping, and to use design features to reduce perceived scale.

The Royal Horticultural Society, as part of their “Greening Grey Britain” campaign, has produced a “Front Garden Guide” in order to encourage the re-greening of these often neglected spaces. We recommend this guide to all developers. Keeping or introducing greenery is vital for the health and wellbeing of our population. Where possible, front garden landscaping in new developments should include.

At a Front Garden Summit in 2018, Greg Clark MP, then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said he would ask officials to review planning rules for impermeable surfaces and would encourage more use of Neighbourhood Plans which allow communities to decide what greening best suits new developments.

A tiny front garden which still provides interest and greenery with attractive multicoloured gravel, rope-edged tiles and low-maintenance planting.

The copyright of photographs in this guide belongs either to members of the Windsor Neighbourhood Plan Forum or to Google Inc. Google Images are reproduced according to general permissions granted by Google for non-commercial sharing of images.

Small front gardens often have to accommodate cars and refuse bins, and so imagination and creativity are needed to ensure that the overall effect is green and pleasant to look at.

Refuse bins should be in purpose-built spaces, preferably to the side or rear. Where this is not possible, bin storage at the front of properties should be robustly constructed of materials to match the development and well screened.

Front garden planting should be in the ground and should be designed for ease of maintenance and in such a way as to discourage removal.

Completely paved front gardens seriously damage the character and appearance of an area and should be avoided.

The illustration shows that even the smallest front garden can make a positive contribution to the street.

1. For new development to preserve or enhance the leafy and spacious residential feel of the area with complementary buildings and extensions which echo the buildings in the Conservation Area, and appropriate landscaping. Recent developments are not to be taken as precedents for future design.

Front setbacks should be no less than the average setback of the adjoining buildings. Buildings can be three or four storeys (even five exceptionally) although it will be important to maintain spaces between buildings.

Development in front of the normal building line or too close to plot boundaries.

2. If the police station is redeveloped, to replace it with a building more in keeping with its surroundings and which creates an attractive landmark building or buildings (two may be more appropriate facing Alma Road).

The community expects to see a development of exceptional quality which restores this site to its place as a key component of an attractive residential area and important town gateway.

Unimaginative slab-sided design. Intrusive car parking.

As a focal point opposite the junction with St Marks Road. The existing building is too dominant and monolithic.

The site is suitable for flats although some family houses are also acceptable.

New building(s) will be sensitive to the mass, spacing and building lines of existing nearby buildings. There were special circumstances for additional height added after the existing building was completed and proposals of similar height will not necessarily be acceptable in a new building.

The existing gap between new building(s) and Connaught Court will be maintained and a similar setback will be provided on the return frontage to the side road. The building(s) will generally conform to the building line of Connaught Court.

New building(s) will have a traditional pitched roof in keeping with properties to the north. Dormer windows in the roof are acceptable. Elevations will be articulated to create interesting facades.

Landscaping is considered to be integral to the design and a comprehensive landscaping scheme is required to be submitted. The layout should provide for the planting of trees on the Alma Road frontage. The existing historic boundary stone will be accommodated in the layout and be visible to the public.

Vehicle access should be from the side road. Car parking must not dominate the layout. Basement parking is preferred or if this is not possible, under-croft parking.

3. To enhance the visual quality of the area through using best quality materials

Materials will be of high quality and selected from a palette of traditional materials (see General Design Guide).

For extensions, materials should generally match those used on the main building.

The use of poor-quality, non-traditional materials

4. Maintain or replace green boundaries and front garden landscaping.

Seek opportunities to retain existing trees and shrubs and to introduce new trees and appropriate landscaping.

The loss of trees and front garden greenery.

1. To encourage appropriate residential developments which are sensitive to the local character.

Ensuring that new building forms and design relate to the street scene and reflect good quality materials which respect local character features such as wooden detailing, ornate chimneys and red tiled roofs, while allowing sympathetic modern design.

Taking design clues from the more urban Victorian buildings in the town centre rather than from the surrounding "Boltons" buildings eg by using slate or slate substitutes for roofs and cream, rather than red, brick for walls.

2. To maintain as far as possible the spacious feel of the area

Ensuring buildings are sufficiently set back at the front and sides to sustain sense of space and separation, with some vegetation, particularly at front side boundaries and between dwellings.

Use articulation and detailing to minimise the effect of bulk

New building will respect the building lines and the heights of surrounding buildings

Avoid development right up to plot boundaries.

3. To Maintain a green feel with gardens and green boundaries and appropriate street trees, strengthening the tree canopy of the neighbourhood, in private gardens, streets and areas of parkland

Buildings should be sited and designed to minimise loss of existing vegetation.

Replace any trees lost with trees that will grow to a similar size.

Where buildings are already close to the street replace with suitable varieties to avoid problems with roots/subsidence.

Maintain and re-instate green boundaries and plant trees and substantial shrubs.

Front boundary treatments should be in accordance with the street scene that predominates in the street.

Fencing/walls should be in accordance with the street scene and accommodate planting.

Site clearance. The loss of trees and shrubs, green front gardens and established garden boundaries.

Replacing green boundaries and vegetation with hard landscaping

High close boarded fencing on front garden boundaries.

4. Ensure there is sufficient parking for residents, but ensure plots are not dominated by impervious surfacing or car parking areas

Local garages, carports and car parking areas behind the front façade of the dwelling.

Minimise impervious surfacing in front garden areas.

Provide only one front garden vehicle crossover per frontage

Front gardens/setbacks dominated by car parking structures and hard surfacing.

Loss of street trees due to cross over construction

1. To encourage appropriate residential developments which are sensitive to scale, structure and detail in local architectural character and heritage. Good modern buildings have taken their design cues from older, often vernacular, structures and dwelling alignments.

Development should be small in scale, height (two-storey) and mass, set well back from the lane edges and should be well articulated and site responsive.

Reclaimed London clay or aged red bricks, warm-toned render, style- appropriate timber details, older door and window designs. Modern windows should be sympathetic to the existing or new buildings and their historic surroundings.

Townhouse styles and terraces with frontages which are devoid of planting. Development which is in front of the normal building line or too close to plot boundaries.

Unsympathetic materials and too modern UPVC window frame designs which lack "warmth" and attractive character.

2. To avoid building styles suited to town centre roads rather than leafy country lanes which would gradually urbanise this corridor. Recent inappropriate developments should not be taken as precedents for future designs.

To retain historic hedgerows and mature trees which provide important continuity in the character, appearance and biodiversity of the area.

Pitched roofs with traditional slate, wooden shingle, quarry or similar tiles, chimneys, dentilled cornices and other brickwork patterns found in older buildings.

Roof treatments for extensions should match main building roof style and materials. Frontages should include appropriate subtle variations which provide visual interest and avoid unbroken "flat" facades.

Street-facing roof conversions should be unobtrusive, sensitive in design and materials, and consistent with the scale of adjacent older buildings.

Extensions should be in keeping and subservient to the principal buildings.

Rooflines, designs and materials which are incompatible with local heritage features or are overbearing in structure.

Bulky or box-like shapes, inappropriate details and materials.

3. To ensure that buildings infilling between or replacing existing villas and bungalows have setbacks and spacing which maintain the scale, atmosphere and appearance of the country lane.

Positive site-appropriate examples include Monsell Walk, Brookside and Copper Horse Court in Hatch Lane and a range of new detached dwellings in Parsonage Lane.

Front setbacks should be at least the average setback of the adjoining two buildings.

Buildings should be set back from both side boundaries of the plot to allow space for vegetation between buildings.

Front boundary treatments should be green and any historic walls, fences and gates retained.

Boundary to boundary development, continuous hardstanding where no space is retained for planting along plot edges

Isolated planters unconnected with the soil below .

4. To maintain the quality and settings of the remaining ancient non-designated and designated heritage buildings.

Development should especially respect the scale and vernacular architecture of any nearby remaining pre- or early-Victorian buildings and be subservient to larger listed ones.

Existing 17th, 18th and 19th C. cottages and terraces are good examples of ordinary street architecture and continuous historic townscape. They also provide valuable visual and heritage context for listed buildings in and to the south of the Mill Lane CA.

Listed buildings should be correctly maintained and LBC obtained for any works undertaken.

Too large, inappropriate modern buildings beside small two-storey cottages.

Dominating structures and "pastiche" styles.

5. To retain natural green boundaries and planting.

Where single homes are replaced with either larger ones or more dwellings, the new development should maintain a single access point or an "in and out" driveway.

Hedges which have already been lost should be replaced with appropriate, preferably native, planting.

Removal of hedges, trees and shrubs, particularly adjacent to roads.

Multiple accesses which alter the character of the area and are considered unsafe with respect to local road conditions.

6. To ensure that front gardens are not dominated by either impervious treatments, extensive driveways or car parking structures which will have adverse environmental and visual impacts.

Care should be taken with vehicle access points to maintain, where necessary replace, or extend areas of planting.

Encourage the use of driveway and parking surfaces appropriate to a rural setting such as gravel, rather than impermeable paving or hard-standing

Front gardens dominated by paving and cars.

1. To ensure that infill and extensions complement existing buildings

This is an area where the character is formed by the architecture being similar. New building should match in materials and style to the existing, with brick exterior of same type and bond as neighbouring properties.

windows of same size and proportion, materials and colour as neighbouring properties.

Roof materials and pitch to match those of neighbouring properties.

Individual styling can be introduced with different porch types

The building line is observed

Different coloured bricks on external walls to neighbouring properties.

Pebble dashed exterior walls.

Black or dark window frames.

Roof tiling of different material, size and colour to neighbouring property.

Buildings forward of existing building line

2. To ensure that building setbacks maintain the spacious feel of the estate.

Side extensions to be set back from the front face of the building.

Filling in the space between buildings so as to create the appearance of a terrace.

3. To integrate roof extensions (see Borough Wide Design Guide)

Dormers only on rear elevations with front roof windows flush with the roof and as unobtrusive as possible

Making hipped roofs into gable roofs where hipped roofs are a distinctive feature of a row of houses.

4. To ensure that the front gardens are not dominated by impervious surfacing, driveways or car parking structures

With the exception of driveways, minimise impervious surfacing in front garden areas.

Keep or introduce front garden vegetation.

Front gardens dominated by car parking structures and hard surfacing.

5. To maintain the front garden hedging which is such an important and attractive feature.

Keep vehicle access width to the minimum allowed.

Consider parking bays or strengthening grass verges for parking as an alternative to allowing vehicle crossovers.

Removing hedges and replacing with fences or walls.

Close boarded or panel fencing to street boundaries.

6. To preserve and enhance trees, shrubs and green open spaces.

New building should be sited and designed to minimise the loss of vegetation.

Any trees or mature planting lost should be replaced.

Any development impacting on the “village greens”

1. To encourage the preservation and enhancement of this unusual set of planned workers cottages

Conservative repair of external walls.

Replace spalled bricks with similar or red render to retain the string courses and decorative red brickwork.

Retain chimney stacks

Further loss of heritage features by painting or rendering brick-work, particularly of the larger cottages. Especially avoid painting over the carved plaques

Removing chimneys.

2. To preserve the roof-scape as far as possible when roof conversions are carried out.

The minimum number of small conservation roof-lights only

Modest rear rooflights, preferably roof dormers only.

Dormers if permitted finished to match the roofing materials.

Re-roofing in slate or slate-like tiles.

Roof-lights which dominate the roof slope.

These cottages are unusual in that the rear elevations are very visible from the central “green” and excessive or intrusive rear dormers or rooflights should be avoided.

Concrete tiles.

3. Seek opportunities to retain original windows and doors or, if they have to be replaced do so with traditionally derived features using natural materials.

Wooden sash windows and wooden front doors.

Windows should be inset and not flush with the external wall. Windows should as far as possible keep or restore the original window sizes.

Where bow windows remain these should be retained if at all possible.

UPVC windows and doors and windows of a different size shape, materials or pattern from the original.

4. Retain each cottage’s small back garden as far as possible

The scale of new extensions should be sympathetic to the scale of the existing buildings.

Extensions should be designed to match the original, preferably in recycled bricks and with recessed windows to match existing.

Boxy over large extensions in inappropriate materials

Large expanses of glass.

5. Seek opportunities for more attractive bin storage.

Communal purpose-built stores?

Most bins are now stored on the "green" which is unattractive. (see photo)

1. To ensure that buildings are well articulated and relate to neighbouring houses and match the street scene

Buildings should have the appearance to the street of two storeys. Roof windows facing the street to be flush with the roof

Dormer windows facing the street. Roof line increased by more than 1 metre.

2. To ensure that buildings complement existing buildings

Wholly or partial brick exterior of same type as neighbouring properties.

Windows of same size and proportion and colour as neighbouring properties. External shutters to match neighbouring properties

Roof materials to match those of neighbouring properties.

The building line is observed

Different coloured bricks on external walls to neighbouring properties.

Pebble dashed exterior walls.

Black or dark window frames.

Lack of external shutters when neighbouring properties have such.

Roof tiling of different material, size and colour to neighbouring property.

Buildings forward of existing building line. Roof pitches which differ from those of neighbouring properties.

3. To ensure that building set-backs allow space between dwellings.

Dwellings should be set back from both side boundaries.

Boundary to boundary development.

4. To ensure that the front set-backs are not dominated by impervious surfacing, driveways or car parking structures

Locate garages, carports beside the building. Provide a balance of driveway and front garden.

Front setbacks dominated by car parking structures and hard surfacing. Gun barrel driveways.

5. To ensure that car parking structures, driveways, manoeuvring areas and out-buildings do not dominate the streetscape.

Locate garages, carports beside the building.

Provide a balance of driveway and front garden.

All the front area devoted to car parking.

Garages set more than 1m forward from building line.

6. To encourage open frontage treatments, including the use of vegetation instead of front fencing and/or low fencing

Provide no front fence

Alternatively, provide an open style fence up to 0.9 metres in height.

Low vegetation at the front boundary

High, solid front fences.

Loss of open frontages.

Dwellings set too far forward.

Car parking structures and driveways dominating the front setback.

High hedges or vegetation.

1.To ensure that future development on the Laing estate conforms to the building forms and appearance that were employed in the original design

Development should not exceed the height and bulk of surrounding buildings unless it can be shown to have no adverse effect on the character of the estate.

The building line should be observed.

Materials should be of high quality in keeping with surrounding properties.

Buildings that are not in character with nearby buildings on the estate.

2.To ensure that building setbacks maintain the spacious feel of the Estate

Spatial separation between buildings should be retained in order to maintain the character of the street in which the buildings are situated.

Side extensions are to be setback from the front face of the building

Infilling between buildings where this creates the appearance of new development forming a terrace with adjacent buildings, where none previously existed.

3.To ensure that future development conforms to the style and character employed in the original design.

Elevations and roofs of new development should conform to the style and character of the surrounding buildings of a similar use category.

The use of building materials which are different in character to those used in the construction of the Estate

4.To integrate roof extensions

Dormers should be constructed only on rear elevations.

Making hipped roofs into gable roofs.

GENERAL RESIDENTS

1 bed unit

1 space per unit

½ space per unit

2-3 bed units

2 spaces per unit

1 space per unit

4 or more bed units

3 spaces per unit

2 spaces per unit

Flats and HMO

1 space per bedroom

½ space per bedroom

HOSTELS & HOTELS

Hostels

1 space per 3 residents

1 space per 6 residents

Hotels / Guest houses

1 space per bedroom

1 space per 2 bedrooms

OLDER PERSONS HOUSING

Active elderly with warden control

1 space per unit

½ space per unit

Nursing and rest homes

1 space per 4 residents plus 1 space per full-time staff

1 space per 8 residents plus 1 space per full-time staff

Attractive window display. Incorporates traditional brickwork into the design, good use of stallriser, small fascia. Harmonised paint colour both within the shop front and with the brickwork. Flowerboxes brighten up the frontage.

Good use of stall-riser, white mullions, sensitive canopy, discrete signage.

Modern integrated plate glass shop front suitable for the style of building along with soft landscaping of the parking area.

Signage is in proportion, and the colour scheme is integrated between the frame and the sign. The shop interior is visible despite the stick-on signs, so the frontage is kept alive.

Planted flowers brighten up the tarmac parking area, and canopy, signs, and building have an integrated colour scheme, and are in harmony and proportion with the building.

If security shutters are absolutely necessary, then see-through integrated designs like these are preferred rather than external box solid metal roller shutters, which create a dead appearance and enhance the perception of crime.