Sponsorship sign at Roadside verge adjoining Jacksons Road and Belfast Road, Holywood
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Ards And North Down Planning Committee on 9 Jun 2026.
What was proposed
The application proposed one sponsorship sign on a roadside verge adjoining Jacksons Road and Belfast Road.
“DEA: Holywood & Clandeboye Proposal: 1no. Sponsorship signage Location: Roadside verge adjoining Jacksons Road and Belfast Road, Holywood Applicant: Ards and North Down Borough Council…”
Officer report
The site
The verge had grass, a planted area and a pedestrian path, with a slight gradient, within Holywood’s settlement limit.
“The application site is located roadside verge adjoining Jacksons Road and Belfast Road, Holywood. The verge consists of areas of mown grass, a planter containing plants and shrubs, with a pedestrian path through the centre. The verge has a slight gradient gently sloping to the east. The site is located within the development limit of Holywood as per the Draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015 (dBMAP) and the North Down and Ards Area Plan 1984-1995 (NDAAP)”
Officer report
Earlier signage case
An earlier enforcement case about an unauthorised estate agent sign was closed after the signage was removed.
“Planning Reference: LA06/2022/0272/CA Location: Junction Of Jackson's Road, Holywood and Belfast Road, Holywood. Co. Down Alleged Breach: Alleged unauthorised estate agent sign (McCullough Residential) Status: Enforcement Case Closed (Signage removed)”
Officer report
Appearance and safety
The sign would be modest in scale, set back from the roads, and would not dominate the area or obstruct the junction.
“The proposed signage measures 0.6m from ground level and measure 0.75m in width. The proposal will act as advertising signage containing the name and logo of a sponsor chosen in line with Ards and North Down Borough Council Roundabout Sponsorship Policy. The scale and design is to be expected of advertising of this type. The signage will be located approximately 3.5m from Belfast Road and 10.7m from Jacksons Road.”
“The sign is to be set back by 3.5m from Belfast Road and approximately 10m from Jacksons Road, considering the scale of the signage and its location in relation to the road I do not consider this to visually obstruct the junction or prejudice the safety of road users. The sign will not appear similar to, nor obstruct, road signage and would not be of a scale I would consider obtrusive.”
Officer report
Consultation response
DFI Roads had no objection, subject to obtaining its separate consent as landowner before placing an advertisement on its land.
“DfI Roads would offer no objections to this proposal subject to the following…”
“DFI’s consent as land owner is required before any advertisement is placed on its land. Such consent, if approved, will be by way of a licence agreement. Planning permission for any advertisement does not convey DFI’s consent for any advertisement on its land. Application to advertise on DFI’s land should be made direct to DfI Roads Lands Headquarters, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8GB, or email…”
Officer report
The committee’s decision
The committee adopted the recommendation and granted consent for the sponsorship sign.
“LA06/2025/0617/A – 1no. Sponsorship Signage (Appendix VII) Previously circulated:- Case Officer’s report. DEA: Holywood & Clandeboye Committee Interest: Proposal: 1 no. sponsorship signage Site Location: Roadside verge adjoining Jacksons Road and Belfast Road, Holywood Recommendation: Grant Consent The Senior Planner (J Hanna) advised that Item 4.6 was an application for advertising consent on behalf of the Council for 1 No. Sponsorship Signage.”
“DFI Roads had no objections. In summary, officers were content it met policy and recommended the proposal for approval. RESOLVED, on the proposal of Alderman Graham, seconded by Councillor Hennessy, that the recommendation be adopted and that the Council grants consent. 4.7”
Minutes
Conditions of consent
The sign must be erected in the approved position and advertisements must be kept clean and tidy.
“The signage hereby approved shall be erected in the position shown on approved plan drawing 03A”
“Any advertisements displayed shall be maintained in a clean and tidy condition.”
Officer report
Sources
- Ards And North Down Planning Committee minutes, 9 June 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Ards And North Down's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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- Council
- Ards And North Down
- Date
- Tuesday 9 June 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Ards And North Down committee decisions →
This committee's year
22 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 1 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.