Seven digital advertisement boards at King George's Hall Northgate, Blackburn

The site

King George’s Hall is a Grade II listed building in Blackburn town centre and the Northgate Conservation Area, surrounded by civic and commercial uses.

“The application site is a Grade II listed building, which is located within Blackburn Town Centre and the Northgate Conservation Area. A number of other listed buildings are also positioned nearby. It comprises of a large ornate building with an enclosed yard area. A concert/civic hall is operated from the majority of the building with wider commercial functions also in operation. The…”

“The building has a rectangular plan on a north/south axis and is in a classical, civic style, with a heavily rusticated base. The Blakey Moor front has an upper portico with giant paired Corinthian columns. The site is located at the junction of Northgate with its front elevation facing onto Blakey Moor. The yard area is positioned to the rear, and it is used for servicing and car parking. Commercial/civic land uses surround to all 4 sides.”

Officer report

Earlier works

Earlier approvals covered refurbishment, roofs, windows, doors, stonework, a construction compound and other works at King George’s Hall.

“10/25/1356 and 1/025/1357 – Installation of plant and associated gantry, installation of ducting to conceal new services, installation of flue, installation of metal external staircases and boarding over of 3rd floor windows to east and west elevations – Application presented to Planning and Highways Committee – Recommendation: Approve, with conditions.”

“10/24/0341 and 10/24/0343 – Works on King Georges Hall, consisting of repair and replacement of slanted and flat roof, rooflights, roof access system, and rainwater goods – Approved, with conditions (committee decision) – May 2024.”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended approval because the proposals were acceptable in design, heritage, highways and public safety terms, subject to conditions.

“These applications seek Listed Building Consent (10/25/1270) and Advertisement Consent (10/25/1274) for the installation of 3 internal digital advertisement boards behind windows along the east elevation and 4 external digital advertising boards to columns along the south elevation. Subject to appropriate conditions, the proposed developments would be acceptable on all the relevant planning grounds, in accordance with the policies detailed above in Section 3.4.”

“Section 38 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires applications to be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Subject to appropriate conditions, the proposals would be acceptable in terms of design and visual amenity, impacts on heritage assets, and highways and public safety. The development therefore complies with the development plan.”

Officer report

Consultation response

The heritage adviser raised no objection, subject to further details on fixing methods, and no public representations were received.

“For the reasons identified above, subject to confirmation of further details regarding the fixing methods, I feel the proposal meets the Statutory duty to preserve, and the objectives contained in Chapter 16 of the NPPF. As such the proposal is in accordance with the requirements of Local Plan Core Policy 7 (CP7) and DM Policy 26 (DM26). I raise no objection from a heritage perspective.”

“No public responses received – no representations received.”

Officer report

Public views

The applications were publicised through letters and a site notice, but no public comments had been received.

“The proposed development has been publicised through letters to residents and occupants of the nearest adjacent properties on 16 th December 2025. In addition, a site notice was displayed on 19 th December 2025. No public comments have been received for the applications so far. Should any public comments be received ahead of the committee meeting, they will be presented as part of the committee update report.”

Officer report

Speakers

There were no registered speakers for the application.

Committee vote

Councillor Quesir Mahmood proposed the officer recommendation and Councillor Zamir Khan seconded it.

“The officer’s recommendations were proposed by Councillor Quesir Mahmood and seconded by Councillor Zamir Khan and subsequently…”

Minutes

The decision

The committee granted planning permission subject to the conditions set out in Section 5 of the report.

“That the planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in Section 5 of the report.”

Minutes