BT Street Hub at Pavement Outside 291A Aylsham Road, Norwich

What was proposed

The application proposed installing one BT Street Hub with digital 75-inch LCD display screens.

“25/01123/F & 25/01124/A – Pavement outside 291A Aylsham Road 39.1 The Committee considered an application for installation of 1no. BT Street Hub and Display of 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. Matthew Armstrong Hickie, Planner, presented the report the application to the Committee and assisted them in their deliberations.”

Minutes

What officers recommended

Officers considered the Street Hub acceptable in principle, with limited visual and amenity effects and controlled advertising impacts, and recommended approval.

“Although marginally taller than typical street furniture, the immediate surroundings are characterised by a largely commercial streetscape, which supports the provision of such infrastructure with associated advertising. As outlined by paragraph 132 of the National Planning Policy Framework, advertisements should be subject to control only in the interests of amenity and public safety.”

“Whilst there are a number of advertisements within the vicinity, it is not considered that this would result in an over-proliferation. In light of the above, it is considered that the proposed Street-Hub would have a limited impact on the visual amenity and character of the area, insufficient to warrant objection. The proposal is therefore acceptable in design terms and would not result in overall harm to the visual amenity or quality of the vicinity. Main Issue 3.”

Officer report

Highway safety controls

The highway authority identified possible distraction but accepted controls on display time, movement, sound and illumination.

“Thank you for consulting the highway authority the application has been assessed and site visit undertaken. Digital roadside advertising is not necessarily inherently unsafe and accordingly the County Council does not have a blanket policy of refusal. Each site is assessed on its own specific characteristics and in this instance the local context is such that these particular signs would cause a safety hazard.”

“The local highway authority considers that a digital advertising display is not inherently unsafe at this specific location but a risk remains of possible distraction that increases the cognitive load a pedestrian or cyclist must endure, lengthening reaction times to dangerous situations. However, we believe it is possible to provide conditions to manage the level of distraction by control of type, brightness, form of change and interval between advertisements. 24.”

Officer report

Concerns raised

Representations raised concerns about ethical advertising, harmful advertisement content and biodiversity effects from illumination.

“Having considered the proposal, in line with previous decisions made the Council on illuminated advertising in the vicinity, for example 15/00642/A on the bus stop further down the road, it is not considered that the proposal would result in harm to the safety of persons using the highway, or hinger the interpretation of traffic signs. 56.”

“Issues raised in letters of representation also include the general harmful content of advertisements, however, under Section 3(4) of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007, it states: “Unless it appears to the local planning authority to be required in the interests of amenity or public safety, an express consent for the display of advertisements shall not contain any limitation or restriction relating to the subject matter,…”

Officer report

Who spoke

The planner presented the application and helped members consider it.

The decision

Application 25/01123/F was approved subject to the standard time limit, approved plans and highway-related informatives.

“2) In accordance with plans. Informatives: • It is an OFFENCE to carry out any works within the Public Highway, which includes a Public Right of Way, without the permission of the Highway Authority. This development involves work to the public highway that can only be undertaken within the scope of a Legal Agreement between the Applicant and the County Council.”

Minutes

Conditions on the display

The related advertising consent required static images, no audio, a ten-second minimum display time and limits on illumination.

“RESOLVED, with 6 members voting in favour (Councillors Driver, Sands (M), Hampton, Harper, Lawes and Lubbock), 1 member voting against (Councillor Knight) and 1 member abstaining (Councillor Young), that application 25/01124/A was approved subject to the following conditions: The five standard conditions for advertisement consent: 1) No advertisement is to be displayed without the permission of the owner of the site or any other person with an interest in the site…”

“5) Where an advertisement is required under these Regulations to be removed, the site shall be left in a condition that does not endanger the public or impair the visual amenity. Plus, the following additional conditions: 6) The minimum display time is set at 10 seconds. 7) The image is static with no animation or apparent moving images. 8) No audio output. 9) Maximum level of illumination during the day set at 2500 cd/m2 (as per the application form).”

Minutes