Item No. 4
Application Reference Number P/15/1541/2
Application Type:
Applicant:
Proposal:
Location:
Parish:
Case Officer:
Advert Consent
Date Valid:
31/07/2015
Bentleys Garden Buildings Ltd
Display of three illuminated fascia signs (Advertisement
consent)
Bentleys Garden Buildings Ltd, Loughborough Road, Wanlip
LE7 4PN
Wanlip
Ward:
Birstall Wanlip
Deborah Liggins
Tel No:
01509 634733
This application is reported to Plans Committee as the applicant is a serving member of
the Council.
Description of the Application
The application site lies within the Countryside as identified in the Borough of Charnwood
Local Plan and is part of an established nursery and garden buildings business which is
located close to the A46 junction with the A6.
The proposal relates to advertisements required in connection with a current associated
planning application (Reference P/15/1539/2) which is reported earlier in this agenda.
That application relates to a part change of use of the site to introduce firework sales. It
is intended to display 3 externally illuminated banner signs on three sides of a moveable
8m x 6m garden building positioned towards the end of the slip road and existing car
parking area. Two of the signs will measure 6 metres by 1.2 metres and one will
measure 8 metres by 1.2 metres. The bottom edge of all the signs would be positioned
900mm from the ground. All three signs would be illuminated by an LED strip connected
to a bracket. The maximum luminance of the signs would be 267candela per square
metre.
Development Plan Policies and Other Material Considerations
Borough of Charnwood Local Plan 1991-2006 (adopted 12th January 2004) (saved
policies)
Policy EV/1 – Design – seeks to ensure a high standard of design for developments
which respect the character of an area, nearby occupiers, and is compatible in mass,
scale, layout, whilst using landforms and other natural features. Development should
meet the needs of all groups and create safe places for people.
Leading in Design Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) - Shopfronts and Signs
The SPD is of limited relevance and is more related to shop front design and associated
signs rather than free-standing signs such as the ones proposed in this application.
Relevant Planning History
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P/04/4241/2 – planning permission granted for the change of use from a nursery to a
mixed use as a nursery and for the sale of garden buildings and equipment.
P/05/3594/2 – Advertisement consent was granted for the display of two non-illuminated
free-standing advertisement signs.
P/06/3352/2 – Planning permission was granted for the retention of CCTV cameras
Responses of Statutory Consultees
Leicestershire County Council (Highways)
The Highway Authority refers to standing advice given to the Council relating to
illumination levels and shielded light sources
Other Responses
Councillor Jones
Councillor Jones has no objections to the proposal.
Consideration of the Planning Issues
There are just two issues to consider in the determination of applications for
Advertisement Consent. These are:


Amenity
Public safety
Amenity
In assessing amenity impacts of the proposal it is necessary to consider the local
characteristics of the neighbourhood and whether proposals are in scale and keeping
with these features.
In this case, the signs are to be located within countryside with no special landscape
designations or particularly important features identified. The signs are also set well
within the application site, in a confined area within an established commercial property
and with discrete means of illumination. It is not therefore, considered that the proposal
would cause a loss of amenity to the area in general or the site itself.
Public Safety
In assessing the public safety impacts of the proposal it is necessary to consider the use
and operation of any form of traffic or transport and assess the likely effects of
advertisements in relation to such matters as the behaviour of drivers, possible confusion
with any traffic sign or signal, or possible interference with navigational lights or aerial
beacons. By their very nature it is assumed that all advertisements, as in this case, are
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intended to attract people’s attention. To assist with this assessment guidance is taken
from the Highway Authority.
In this case, the signs are located more than 30 metres from the north-bound
carriageway of the A6 and would not be visible to motorists heading south due to high
buffer planting within the highway between the roads. The means of illumination is
energy efficient and low-key and of a type where glare to motorists or upward light
pollution would be avoided.
The brightness of the illuminated signs is well within the guidance produced by the
Institution of Lighting Engineers Technical Report which sets out appropriate levels
depending on the relative brightness of the surroundings of the site. For example, in low
district brightness areas such as rural or small village locations, the brightness of
proposed signs should not exceed 600 candelas per square metre for signs measuring
up to 10 square metres. As noted above, the brightness of the proposed signs would be
less than 300 candelas per square metre. The absence of other signs in the immediate
locality adjacent to the familiar road layout means that the signs would not have a
cluttering or confusing effect to highway users. The signs will attract attention, as they
are designed to do, but it is not considered that their display would cause any significant
harm to public safety and this is a view supported by the Highway Authority.
Conclusion
Taking account of all the above, it is recommended that Advertisement Consent is
granted.
RECOMMENDATION:Grant Conditionally
1
a) Any advertisements displayed, and any site used for the display of
advertisements, shall be maintained in a clean and tidy condition to the
reasonable satisfaction of the local planning authority.
b) Any structure or hoarding erected or used principally for the purpose of
displaying advertisements shall be maintained in a safe condition.
c) Where an advertisement is required under these Regulations to be removed,
the removal shall be carried out to the reasonable satisfaction of the local
planning authority.
d) No advertisement is to be displayed without the permission of the owner of
the site or any person with an interest in the site entitled to grant permission.
e) No advertisement shall be sited or displayed so as to obscure, or hinder the
ready interpretation of any road traffic sign, railway signal or aid to navigation by
water or air, or so as otherwise to render hazardous the use of any highway,
railway, waterway or aerodrome (civil or military).
REASON: To comply with the requirements of Regulation 13 and Schedule 1 of
the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007.
2
The maximum luminance of the light source shall not exceed 600 candelas per
square metre.
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REASON: To limit the intensity of light and thereby reduce the potential for glare
and dazzle which might distract drivers, in the interests of highway safety.
The following advice notes will be attached to a decision
1
Consent has been granted for this proposal because the Council has determined
that no material harm would be caused to amenity or safety such as to warrant a
refusal of consent.
2
Discussion with the applicant to seek an acceptable solution was not considered
necessary in making this decision. The Local Planning Authority has therefore
acted pro-actively to secure a sustainable form of development in line with the
requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (paragraphs 186 and
187) and in accordance with The Town and Country Planning (Development
Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015.
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This material has been reproduced from Ordnance Survey
digital map data with the permission of the controller of Her
Majesty’s Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright.
Licence No: 100023558
This copy has been produced specifically for Council
purposes only. No further copies may be made.
Application No:
Location:
Scale:
ck
Track
A6
ck
A
6
A6
Tra
Tra
P/15/1541/2
Bentleys Garden Buildings Ltd, Loughborough Road, Wanlip LE7 4PN
1:2500
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