Stove installed in Acomb home refused by York council

Retrospective plans to install the stove in the home in Front Street, Acomb, have been refused by City of York Council planning officers.

The home’s owners stated a broken gas fire that was there when they moved in was not in keeping with the historic building.

But council planning officers ruled the works resulted in the loss of the historic fireplace and timber surrounds and that the new stove was inappropriate.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Refusal comes after the homeowners installed the stove in their lounge, in what was Acomb Manor House which dates to the late 15th or early 16th Century.

The Grade II-listed building features later alterations, including some made at the end of the 19th Century, and was restored in 1987.

Plans from its owners stated there had been no need to create a new fireplace or alter the building as part of the works.

They added a board had been fitted to cover up the messy cavity behind the stove.

The old fireplace in the home in Front Street, Acomb (Image: Andrew Blacklock/City of York Council)

The owners said: “The old fire was a broken cast iron gas fire in a white fire surround.

“Rightly or wrongly, we determined that a wood or log burner would be more in keeping with the property.

“We did consider seeing if there had once been a much larger fireplace as the chimney is of significantly large dimensions, we decided against this so that we didn’t have a major impact on the room or it’s structural and appearance aspects.

“A local company was used who removed the old fireplace, capped the gas supply and removed loose rubble that had just been left behind the old fire.

“The fire was a requirement for the ability to heat the room without resorting to the central heating and to have something that actually worked and was, we thought, in keeping with an older property.”

Council planning officers stated that although the previous fireplace was not original, it dated to the Victorian period so it was part of the building’s historic character.

Officers said: “Whilst not original, the loss is still harmful to the buildings significance.

“The newly installed log burner has resulted in a loss of this character and
harmed the appearance of the heritage asset.

“The log burner and increased opening size is inappropriate and fails to preserve the character of the heritage asset.

“The changes have resulted in less than substantial harm to the listed building.”

The owners have six months to appeal against the council’s decision if they wish.