18 park advert banners at Bishop's Park, Fulham, London SW6

What was proposed

The application sought consent to retain 18 non-illuminated, double-sided banners on existing park lighting columns.

“Description: Retention of 18 non illuminated double sided advert banners (measuring 1.6m in height x 0.6m in width) at a height of 2.8m above the ground on existing lighting columns within Bishops Park. Drg Nos: See Condition 2”

Officer report

The site and its history

The park is a public open space, historic park, conservation area and Metropolitan Open Land beside the River Thames, with earlier restoration and market permissions.

“The application relates to Bishop’s Park, a well-established public open space (approximately 10 ha) extending along the northeastern bank of the River Thames from Putney Bridge in the southeast up to Fulham Football Club to the northwest.”

“Bishop's Park is a Grade II listed Historic Park on English Heritage's Register, lies within designated Metropolitan Open Land, and is in the Bishop's Park Conservation Area. The Thames Pathway passes along the river side of the site.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended granting advertisement consent because the banners were considered acceptable for visual amenity, heritage, highway safety and neighbouring residential amenity.

“(1) That the Committee resolve that the Executive Director of Place be authorised to grant advertisement consent subject to the conditions listed below.”

“----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JUSTIFICATION FOR APPROVING The design, size and siting of the advertisements are considered to be acceptable in visual amenity terms and do not have a detrimental effect on the residential amenities of the occupiers of neighbouring properties, or on highway safety.”

Officer report

Main planning issues

The assessment considered design and heritage, highway and public safety, neighbouring amenities and biodiversity.

“The main planning considerations material to the assessment of this application are listed below: - Design and visual impact including impact on heritage assets; - Highway/public safety; and - other issues including neighbouring amenities and biodiversity.”

Officer report

What people said

The consultation received 152 objections concerning the retrospective process, consultation, heritage, visual clutter, commercialisation, amenity, safety and ecology.

“The application has been publicised by means of statutory site notices and press notices. In response, 152 objections have been received, and the summary concerns are set out below: Retrospective Application / Process Concerns • Banners installed before consent granted undermining the planning system. • Perceived as deliberate or improper behaviour. • Risk of setting precedent for retrospective approvals. • Failure to submit accurate or updated application documents.”

“All these matters are addressed in the relevant section of this report) 4.18 Overall Summary of objections • Procedurally flawed • Causes heritage harm • Introduces inappropriate commercialisation • Creates visual clutter • Sets a dangerous precedent 4.19 The Advertisement Regulations require that local planning authorities control the display of advertisements in the interests of amenity and public safety, taking into account the provisions of the development plan in so far…”

Officer report

Who spoke

An officer gave a presentation and two objectors spoke against approval.

The committee vote

Members voted three to two for the amended officer recommendation and unanimously supported the second recommendation.

“The Committee voted on the officer recommendation of approval as amended by the Addendum as follows:”

Minutes

The decision

The committee authorised advertisement consent subject to the report conditions and Addendum changes, with authority for minor condition changes.

“That the Executive Director of Place be authorised to grant advertisement consent subject to the conditions listed in the report and changes in the Addendum.”

“That the Executive Director of Place, after consultation with the Assistant Director of Legal Services and the Chair of the Planning and Development Control Committee be authorised to make any minor changes to the proposed conditions, which may include the variation, addition or deletion of conditions, any such changes shall be within their discretion.”

Minutes