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Lilac house battle fails
A MOTHER has vowed to continue her fight after losing her two-year battle to keep her historic home a provocative shade of lilac.
Janice Daines said she was “stunned” after she discovered that the Planning Inspectorate ruled that the colour of her Grade II listed home in Callis Street Clare, was historically “wholly unsatisfactory”.
But the defiant mother-of-two, who now faces legal action if she refuses to alter the colour, painted without planning permission, said she would rather go to prison than repaint her 17th century home.
The Planning Inspectorate dismissed Mrs Daines’ appeal against St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s decision to refuse her Listed Building Consent. In a lengthy report he ruled: “The house stands out as a clear contrast to the historic palette of the colours in Clare. Indeed, I accept that the colour is a relatively modern creation, dating from the mid-19th century and created from materials, which were not available before then. In historic terms, it is wholly unsatisfactory”.
“Architecturally too, it jars in its setting. The lilac colour does not harmonise with the more ‘earthy’, traditional colours that characterise the town and the conservation area. I am convinced that the lilac colour does harm the appearance of the conservation area and detracts from the architectural quality of the listed building”.
The Planning Inspector went on to say, “I am concerned that if this colour was allowed to remain, it would be hard to resist further erosion of the historic and visual qualities of the setting”. He concluded that retrospective Listed Building Consent should not be given.
Mrs Daines said she was shocked and claimed that she had not been informed of the decision. She said: “I am absolutely stunned and I think it is disgusting that I was not the first person informed of the decision. I am being bullied into repainting my home and I am going to carry on fighting to keep the house the colour of my choice…I would rather be sent to prison than repaint my house”.
Mrs Daines fell foul of planners at St Edmundsbury Borough Council in 1999. The authority said that the colour was unsuitable for a conservation area and it must be repainted in a colour derived from natural pigments, such as white, off-white, dark yellow or dark red.
The Borough Council welcomed the Planning Inspectorate’s decision with Committee Chairperson Margaret Warwick saying: “This is an important case which highlights the role local authorities have in making sure that historic areas retain their special characteristics”.
Date : 05-12-2001
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