Illuminated BT Street Hub at Pavement Opposite 32 The Esplanade, Weymouth

The site and surroundings

The site is on the southern promenade near Alexandra Gardens and a sand sculpture attraction, within the Conservation Area and near listed heritage assets.

“Description of site 4.1 The application site located on the promenade/walkway which runs along the northern side of The Esplanade, being at the southern end of the walkway, opposite Alexandra Gardens and in close proximity to the Weymouth Beach Sand Sculpture tourist attraction. It is within Weymouth’s Defined Development Boundary (DDB), but just outside the town centre. Nevertheless, it is washed over by the town centre sub-area WEY5 (Esplanade (South)).”

“The site is within the Weymouth Town Centre Conservation Area, and within the setting of numerous listed buildings. These include the grade II listed 24-34 Esplanade, 36 Esplanade, the Fairhaven Hotel, 40 Esplanade, Edwarde’s Statue and the Promenade shelter. Number 36 Esplanade is a non-designated heritage asset. The Weymouth Town Centre Conservation Area Character Appraisal (2012) shows a key view and a ‘townscape effect’ adjacent to the site.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

Previous applications covered a telephone kiosk and ATM replacement, street hubs, digital advertising panels and a related LCD display screen.

“WP/14/00010/FUL - Decision: GRA - Decision Date: 26/03/2014 Replacement and upgrade of existing public telephone kiosk combining public telephone service and ATM service…”

“P/ADV/2024/02758 - Decision: GRA - Decision Date: 28/02/2025 Install internally illuminated double sided digital advertising panel to replace existing advertising drum…”

Officer report

Main planning concerns

The hub would increase illuminated advertising and visual clutter, harm the Conservation Area and heritage settings, but would not harm residential amenity.

“Their updated comments state that: ‘Whilst it is acknowledged that the distance from the sand sculptures and the existing freestanding advertisement has been improved by the revised location, it considered that the Conservation Officer comments provided on 6 February 2026 are still valid; the proposal would cause less than substantial harm due to the height, mass, colour, animation and illumination of the proposed structure and predominantly due to the accumulation of visual…”

“Whilst it is accepted that the proposed setting of the BT Hub could be described as illuminated, given various forms of street lighting, and the amusement centre to the west, in Alexandra Gardens, it is considered that the installation of the proposed BT Hub would be harmful, being read alongside the two existing LED advertising units installed in 2025, leading to a cumulative proliferation of similar forms of illumination, within the Conservation Area, and the close setting…”

Officer report

What consultees said

Highways raised lighting concerns but no objection, the Conservation Officer objected on heritage grounds, and the town council objected subject to retaining Wi-Fi benefits.

“Consultations All consultee responses can be viewed in full on the website. Consultees 1. Dorset Council - Highways Initial Response (8/1/26): No objection, however concerns with the light levels/brightness both during daytime and nighttime. Level of illumination to be reduced to match ambient levels, not a constant 5000cd/m2, with night levels to be 300cd/m2. Note that there should be a mechanism to default to a blank screen in the event of malfunction/when not in use.”

“BT Street Hub is considered detrimental to the street scene due to the height, mass, colour, animation and illumination of the proposed structure and predominantly due to the accumulation of visual clutter in this historic setting. The proposal would not enhance the historic promenade, would have a negative impact on the neighbouring heritage assets and would have a detrimental effect on the special character and appearance of the Conservation Area.”

Officer report

The decision

“Decision: That the application be refused for the following reason: The proposed BT Street Hub would be a harmful addition to the historically sensitive and significant Esplanade promenade within the Weymouth Town Centre Conservation Area, given its siting, scale, design, appearance and colour with inbuilt LED screens being visually intrusive, adding to the proliferation of street furniture and being read alongside existing LED advertising screens which have been installed along the Esplanade. Whilst it is noted that there would be public benefits from the proposed hub, namely increased coverage of 5G and the provision of Wi Fi, this is not considered to outweigh the less than substantial harm to the setting of Edwardes Statue and The Promenade Shelter, and the character and appearance of the Conservation Area, which the hub would cause. Furthermore, it has not been demonstr”

Minutes, 15 Jul 2026