Temporary window vinyls at Former Mountain Warehouse, Barnstaple
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by North Devon Planning Committee on 1 Jul 2026.
Why approval was advised
The vinyls would cause moderate less-than-substantial heritage harm, but their temporary neutral design and public benefits were considered to outweigh it.
“Against the findings above the proposal would result in harm to the listed buildings significance and interest. Given the nature of these works the harm is considered to be a moderate degree of less than substantial harm. Although less than substantial, the NPPF is clear that great weight should be given to any asset’s conservation. Paragraph 215 of the NPPF advises that this harm should be weighed against the public benefits of the proposal.”
“In light of the foregoing and noting the temporary nature of the vinyls it is considered, on balance, that the public benefits of installing the advertisements outweighs the limited harm to the amenity of the conservation area and listed building.”
Officer report
What consultees said
The Heritage and Conservation Officer found no harm to the heritage asset, the Town Council enthusiastically supported approval, and no neighbours responded.
“Reply Received: 04/06/2026 The Barnstaple Town Council, Planning and Transportation Committee on Wednesday 3rd June 2026 made the following recommendation: RESOLVED: Enthusiastically recommend approval and ask that further vacant properties in the High St are investigated for this treatment (NC)”
“I do not consider that this proposal would cause harm to the significance of the heritage asset.”
Officer report
What members discussed
The Lead Planning Officer advised that the vinyls could remain for up to two years, after which fresh consents would be needed if the property stayed vacant.
“The Lead Planning Officer (North) recommended that the time period in condition 1 be amended from “three years” to “within 12 months”.”
“In response to questions from the Committee, the Lead Planning Officer (North) advised the following:”
Minutes
The committee vote
The committee unanimously approved the application as recommended, subject to changing the commencement period from three years to within 12 months.
“RESOLVED (unanimous) that the application be APPROVED as recommended by the Lead Planning Officer (North) subject to the time period in condition 1 being amended from “three years” to “within 12 months”.”
Minutes
The approval conditions
The consent required compliance with approved plans and ended when trading resumed or two years after the decision, whichever came first.
“The works hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans/details: NDC001 Location Plan received on the 07/05/26 NDC003 Proposed Elevation Photo received on the 07/05/26 ('the approved plans').”
“The advertisements permitted by this consent shall not be displayed on the site after the operator of the premises starts trading again or after expiry of 2 years from the date of this decision, whichever occurs first.”
Officer report
Sources
- North Devon Planning Committee minutes, 1 July 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of North Devon's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- North Devon Planning Committee
- Council
- North Devon
- Date
- Wednesday 1 July 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Vote
- Unanimous
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- View application →
- All decisions
- North Devon committee decisions →
This committee's year
35 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 3 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.