Issue 06 • Autumn/Winter 09
INSIDE:
• Case studies: Focus on South Yorkshire
• Ventrolla: A Class Act
• Environmental Benefits –
Window Renovation vs. Replacement
• Ventrolla: RIBA NBS Plus
• Making An Entrance
Welcome to In The Frame
Welcome to our Autumn/Winter issue
of In The Frame, the newsletter from
Ventrolla, the UK’s leading traditional
timber sash and casement window
renovation specialist.
In this issue, you’ll find news of what’s been
happening within the Ventrolla network, with
particular focus on the high profile projects
our South Yorkshire office have been working
on recently.
“Conservation Areas at Risk” say English Heritage
On Tuesday 23 June, English
Heritage revealed the results
of the first ever national survey
of conservation areas.
England has 9,300 conservation areas, places
designated by local councils to protect their
special character and appearance, but the
latest edition of English Heritage’s annual
Heritage at Risk register reveals that one in
seven is at risk of neglect, decay or damaging
change and many more give cause for concern.
The results show the top threats to be plastic
windows and doors (83% of conservation areas
affected) and poorly maintained roads and
pavements (60%). Other culprits include the
For more information and to find our nearest office call FREEPHONE 0800 0277 454 or visit www.ventrolla.co.uk
In The FRAME
We also discuss the recent “Conservation
Areas At Risk” campaign carried out by English
Heritage, Article 4 Directions for conservation
areas throughout the UK, how we install our
Perimeter Sealing System into timber doors and
our RIBA NBS Plus specification.
I hope you enjoy reading this edition of In The
Frame, and we welcome any feedback you
may have.
David Greaves,
Managing Director, Ventrolla Ltd
loss of front garden walls, fences and hedges There are also financial gains to taking
(43%) and unsightly satellite dishes (38%). care of your conservation area. An English
Heritage poll of Estate Agents reveals that
These results were collated by analysing the
82% think original features add value to a
responses that Local Authorities gave to a
property and 75% think being in a well-kept
questionnaire, and the results show that all
conservation area enhances house prices.
problems fall into two main areas: what owners
do to their properties and what councils do or In their review, English Heritage also awarded
fail to do to the streets, pavements, parks and Local Authorities that have done the most to
public spaces. improve their conservation areas. The national
award went to Stockton, North East and eight
Using this information, English Heritage is now
regional awards included South Derbyshire,
asking for a three step process to be adopted,
Richmondshire and Southampton.
which involves asking councils to make more
use of Article 4 Directions (see overleaf) and
to take better care of the public areas, whilst
also asking local people to get involved. www.ventrolla.co.uk
 The South Yorkshire team started by
repairing damaged woodwork, replacing the
original glazing bars and then installing
the Ventrolla Perimeter Sealing System
(VPSS) into each of the windows to improve
their performance.
Ventrolla’s unique Sash Removal System
was fitted to allow for quick and easy future
maintenance and the job was finished by
adding solid brass catches, sash lifts and
security stops.
Article 4 Directions FOCUS
English Heritage have highlighted the need to care more
for our built environment, in particular conservation areas,
on
in their recent “Conservation Areas At Risk” Campaign, South
by asking Local Authorities to adopt Article 4 Directions,
as only 13% of conservation areas currently have one.
Yorkshire
Article 4 Directions are issued by the council in circumstances where
specific control over development is required, primarily where the
character of an area of acknowledged importance would be threatened.
They are therefore more commonly applied to conservation areas.
Cathedral

Richard Earnshaw, Managing Director of

Ventrolla South Yorkshire, said: “Leopold
Square is a prestigious development which
is fast becoming a hub of leisure activity in
Sheffield city centre.
The properties around the square are more
Leopold Square than 100 years old and the windows were
starting to show definite signs of age.
A complete upgrade was needed to keep
You may normally carry out certain minor works without the need for a
planning application to the Local Authority. These are called permitted
Windows Restored
development, and the rights relating to them are defined in the Town
and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995.
to Former Glory
Under Article 4 of the Order, a Local Authority may make directions to
remove such rights if it feels that such development would be harmful
to the character of an area. Where an Article 4 Direction is in force, you
must get planning permission to undertake the works that it covers.
Planning consent had always been needed for any work in
conservation areas involving “demolition”. Demolition had been
interpreted nationally as including minor works such as removing

Stylish Square them in line with the look and feel of the
overall scheme.”
traditional windows and replacing them with uPVC. Local Authorities
were therefore able to use this need for consent to prevent such
harmful development in conservation areas.
St Marie’s Cathedral

Attracting the Crowds Leopold Square is situated just off Leopold

Ventrolla South Yorkshire has helped
put the finishing touches to a major
leisure development in Sheffield
city centre.
Built around a number of Grade II listed
renovated school buildings dating back to
1870, Leopold Square is a collection of top
quality bars and restaurants and also has its
own four star boutique hotel.
Its sophisticated design, complete with
a contemporary water feature and solid
bronze benches, takes its inspiration from
the bustling squares of Barcelona and
many of the restaurants offer an al fresco
dining experience.
For Ventrolla, the challenge at Leopold
Square was to renovate 120 wooden sash
and casement windows and ensure an
authentic but also stylish finish.
Street and West Street, in the heart of
Sheffield City Centre. The Leopold Hotel is a
four star boutique hotel that forms part of the
development and has 92 bedrooms, many of
which have retained original features from the
old school.
For further details on these and other
projects, please go to:
www.ventrolla.co.uk
Since 1995 there have been three types of direction:
• Directions under article 4(2) affecting conservation areas
• Directions under article 4(1) affecting only listed buildings; and
• Directions under article 4(1) affecting other land.
Article 4 has historically been a rarely used instrument which was not
particularly effective, and was difficult to apply as it always required
approval from the Secretary of State. The 1995 Town and Country
Planning (General Permitted Development) Order made significant
improvements to the process, and since that time the use of Article 4
Directions has increased, with English Heritage now appealing for all
Local Authorities to introduce them.
The diocese of Hallam turned to experts at Ventrolla
South Yorkshire to help restore a number of windows at
its cathedral house in the city.
The company was asked to overhaul 60 sash windows at the premises,
which are part of the Cathedral Church of St Marie and provide
residential and office space to the current Dean, Father Christopher
Posluszny.
Ventrolla was recommended by the cathedral’s Property Manager,
who had been told by the city council’s Conservation Officer that the
damaged windows had to be restored rather than replaced.
Problems were made worse when the team discovered years of
painting had actually sealed many of the windows shut.
Nevertheless, after a month of hard work Ventrolla was able
to restore the sashes and interior window furniture to their

Ventrolla – A Class Act Environmental Benefits

Cold draughts and noisy rattles
are unwelcome additions to any
classroom and Sheffield High School
is no exception.
Its owners, the Girls’ Day School Trust, called in
Ventrolla South Yorkshire to address problems
with 120 sash windows, which were individually
refurbished over a five month period.
Stephen Greenhalgh, Building Surveyor for the
Trust, said: “We have worked with Ventrolla
before and continue to be impressed by the
quality of service they offer.
Due to the high volume of windows being
addressed at Sheffield High School we asked
the team to phase their workload so it wouldn’t
cause disruption to classes. In the end most
were completed during the half term holidays.”
The first stage of the project was to repair any
damaged woodwork on the sashes. Where the
damage was too extensive, Ventrolla replaced
the sashes, matching the originals as closely
as possible.
The next stage was to install Ventrolla’s
Perimeter Sealing System (VPSS) in the gap
surrounding the window sashes, which
improves performance and eliminates draughts
and rattles.
Sheffield High School first opened its doors in
1878 with 39 pupils enrolled. The school then
relocated in 1887 to purpose built premises at
Rutland Park, where it still stands today.
The Girls’ Day School Trust runs 29 schools
throughout England and Wales and, with an
annual turnover of around £130 million, is the
largest group of independent schools in the UK.
Since completing the work at Sheffield,
Ventrolla has been invited to deliver a similar
project for Central Newcastle High School.
Sheffield High School
Window Renovation vs. Replacement
The argument for renovation over
replacement has never been more relevant
given current climate change issues and
the need for renovation projects to produce
low carbon emissions.
Window renovation, which retains much of
the existing material, has clear environmental
benefits over manufacturing replacement
windows. However, many people fail to
consider the whole picture and the wider
implications of uPVC replacement windows,
such as energy consumption.
By renovating windows, our system
effectively recycles materials at source,
which minimises waste. This is an important
environmental benefit when compared to
uPVC, where:
former glory.
Marie O’Hara, Administrator at St Marie’s, said: “Initially
we wanted to replace the windows, but after speaking
to the council we were informed they would have to
be restored since the building was Grade II listed
• 82% of uPVC goes to landfill
and located in a conservation area.
• 43% of uPVC is made up of One of the key features in the cathedral house
non-renewable resources
is a stunning bay window which is home to
• 15% of uPVC is incinerated an original stained glass arrangement.
• Only 3% of uPVC is recycled We are incredibly pleased with the quick
and effective service Ventrolla provided,
• uPVC has a 100 year payback period
especially when dealing with this
In contrast, the environmental benefits of delicate specification.”
renovating your wooden sash windows are:
Construction of St Marie’s was completed
• Only 1/40th of the energy of replacement in 1850 with the cathedral house opening
is used in 1902, although St Marie’s didn’t receive
• Material sent to landfill is reduced formal cathedral status until 1980 when the
new diocese of Hallam was created.
• Use of finite resources is minimised
• Invested energy or carbon store is retained www.ventrolla.co.uk

For more information and to find our nearest office call FREEPHONE 0800 0277 454 or visit www.ventrolla.co.uk
Ventrolla: RIBA NBS Plus
Replacing windows when working on
a project can result in unnecessary
complications, higher costs to the
client, loss of the building’s character
and a negative impact on the
environment. There may also be
planning regulations to comply with
when dealing with historic and listed
buildings, and those within
conservation areas.
Ventrolla’s two part timber window renovation
and performance upgrade service ensures
the integrity of the window is retained whilst
improving its energy efficiency by installing their
unique Perimeter Sealing System.
As you are aware, specifying is an essential part
of the design process, and therefore using RIBA
NBS Plus ensures you get accurate and up to
date information direct from the supplier to use in
your specification.
NBS Plus is a library of building product
manufacturer details, linked to clause guidance
in the NBS specification products.
RIBA NBS states that “A badly written
specification can cause major problems for
every member of the project team, and can cost
the client a great deal of money. A well written
specification can enhance project delivery
and save money.”
Ventrolla’s timber window renovation
specification can be found on the RIBA NBS
Plus System in the wood window section 31.4,
or downloaded from
www.ventrolla.co.uk/commercial/training_cpds/
Approved by RIBA and worth double points,
Ventrolla also runs two CPDs outlining the
benefits of window renovation over
replacement and the green issues relating
to window renovation.
www.ventrolla.co.uk

Making An
Entrance
Whilst the Ventrolla Perimeter Sealing
System (VPSS) was originally
designed for sliding sash windows,
it is also effective in timber doors.
Internal and external doors in period properties
can be ill-fitting due to building movement over
the years and therefore can cause draughts
and rattles, unless they have a high grade of the original timber. The second part involves
sealing system installed. draught proofing using the unique Ventrolla
Perimeter Sealing System (VPSS). Using the
As with our window renovation process,
same materials we use on sliding sash
Ventrolla’s two part service, in relation to doors,
begins with the treatment and renovation windows ensures the same high results.

Our preferred method is to install our Perimeter

Sealing System around the door itself to avoid
altering either the appearance or aesthetics of
the door. Alternatively, it can be fitted within
door blades secured to the frame. The choice
would depend upon the type of the door and
customer’s requirements. polypropylene yarn that is silicon treated to be
water repellent and UV stabilised. This means
In our standard installation, the pile carrier is
that it will retain its integrity and benefits
routed into the timber giving a permanent fixing
throughout its life.
point and making the system an integral part of
the door. The appropriate sized weatherfin pile Whether your projects have timber doors, sash
weather-stripping is then selected to suit the or casement windows, Ventrolla’s system can
gap and inserted into the pile carrier. reduce the energy loss whilst retaining the
building’s character.
The seal conforms to BS 7386: 1997, being
manufactured from a multifilament www.ventrolla.co.uk

For more information and to find our nearest office call

FREEPHONE 0800 0277 454 or visit www.ventrolla.co.uk