AN APPLICATION to replace a number of windows at an Edwardian villa has been approved.

The plan for Meadow Croft, located at Storrs Park, close to Bowness, came under the spotlight at a meeting of the national park authority's development control committee on Wednesday.

Windermere Town Council had objected to the scheme prior to the meeting, suggesting using uPVC – a strong but lightweight plastic – to replace the windows would be 'out of keeping with the character of this property'.

But Rose Lord, national park authority conservation planner, said in a pre-meeting report that the 'like-for-like' new windows would 'not make a change to the character and appearance of the building that would be noticeable from public vantage points' and would 'not harm the character and appearance of the area'.

Geoff Davies, development control committee chairman, said: "They [the existing windows] are not original, so we are replacing them with something that looks the part, even though the material is different.

"The public views are limited, it is not a listed building, it is not in a conservation area, it is not listed – even though it's a villa – in the World Heritage Site nomination documents."

The plan was given unanimous approval.