BT Street Hub and adverts at Telephone Boxes Adjacent To Co-op Store Distillery Square, Norwich

What was proposed

The application proposed replacing an existing BT payphone with a Street Hub and displaying two digital 75-inch advertisement screens.

“Purpose: To determine: Application no: 25/01039/F & 25/01040/A Site Address: Telephone Boxes Adjacent To Co-op Store. Distillery Square. Norwich Decision due by: 18/12/2025 Proposal: Installation of 1no. BT Street Hub and removal of associated existing BT payphone(s). Display of two digital 75-inch LCD display screens on a BT Street Hub. Key considerations: Principle of Development; Design; Transport; Amenity.”

“The Proposal 8. The removal of an existing BT payphone box on site. The installation of a new BT Street-Hub on site, positioned approximately 1.3m north of the existing payphone box, closer to the main pedestrian footpath and highway. The unit itself would measure 1236(w) x 350(d) x 2980mm(h) as per the plans,. and would be designed with an advertising screen on each face.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is pedestrianised land in a retail centre near the Co-op, commercial premises, residential flats and a busy main road with a nearby crossing.

“The site and surroundings 1. The site is located within the Dereham Road/Distillery Square district retail centre, approximately, 1km west of Norwich city centre and in close proximity to a number of retail premises. These include the Co-op shop to the west, Wilco Fast Fit to the east and a number of retail / restaurant premises to the north. 2.”

“The proposed BT hub would replace the existing BT phone box on site, and is part of a wider scheme of upgrading street infrastructure within the centre and outskirts of Norwich relating also to applications 25/01123/F and 25/01125/F, and their associated advertisement consents, 25/01124/A and 25/01126/A. Constraints 5. Critical Drainage Catchment - Nelson and Town Close 6. District Retail Centre - Dereham Road/Distillery Square Relevant Planning History 7.”

Officer report

Planning history

The site previously had approval for relocating two telephone kiosks in 2004.

“04/00314/T Relocation of two telephone kiosks. APPR 10/05/2004”

Officer report

What people said

Representations raised concerns about visual intrusion, ethical advertising, driver distraction, highway safety, light pollution, biodiversity and advertisement proliferation.

“Representations 12. Adjacent and neighbouring properties have been notified in writing. 15 letters of representation have been received for the full application, and 16 letters of representation for the advertisement consent, citing the issues as summarised in the table below: Issues raised Response Intrusive in the street scene. See Main Issue 2: Design. In breach of Norwich City Council’s ethical advertising policy. See Other matters.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Matthew Armstrong Hickie, Planner, presented the application and assisted members in their deliberations.

What members considered

Members heard that the hub was just under three metres high, slightly taller than existing street furniture, left space for pedestrians and maintained highway safety.

“25/01039/F & 25/01040/A – Telephone Boxes adjacent to Co-op Store, Distillery Square, Norwich 38.1 Councillor Knight rejoined the meeting at this point. The Committee considered an application for the installation of 1no. BT Street Hub and removal of associated existing BT payphone(s) and Display of two digital 75-inch LCD display screens on a BT Street Hub. The Committee had before it a report and updates report in which all information was laid out.”

“The proposed BT Street Hub was just under 3metres in height and 123mm in width and would be marginally higher than the existing street furniture. The plan demonstrated that there was sufficient space around the unit to ensure pedestrians being able to walk around it. The application was policy compliant as it did not have an unacceptable impact on the character of the area, and the safety of the highway was maintained.”

Minutes