BT Street Hub at Pavement Outside Of Regent Circus, Swindon

What was proposed

The application proposed one BT Street Hub, with associated BT payphone removal and two digital display screens.

“The application seeks planning permission Installation of 1no. BT Street Hub.. The application has been submitted in conjunction with advertisement consent application (S/ADV/25/0753) to display 2no. digital 75" LCD display screens, one on each side of the proposed BT Street Hub unit.”

“BT Street Hubs are free to use to the public. They display advertisements (Local and National) as well as provide public Wi-Fi, free phone calls, display of community and emergency messages (i.e. police awareness messaging). They include an interactive tablet that gives user access to local services, weather information and connection to charities for support.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The hub would occupy pavement beside Regent Circus, near pedestrian crossings, commercial premises, Princes Street and Crombey Street.

“The application site is an area of pavement on the southern side of Regent Circus, to the immediate north of the adjacent Regent Circus shopping & entertainment complex and to the immediate east of the junction with Princes Street and Crombey Street, as criss-crossed with block-paved pedestrian crossings. The application site is surrounded by commercial units which include restaurants, takeaways, hairdressers, retail and some residential use in the upper floors.”

“The application site is not subject to any special designations. The site is not within a Conservation Area. The site is also not within the setting on any listed buildings. Including the Grade II listed Town Hall building around 75 metres to the west of the application site, with intervening street features and…”

Officer report

Earlier applications

There was no relevant Street Hub history at the site, although several similar wider-area applications had been granted, refused or remained pending.

“Relevant Planning History and Associated Applications: Application Number: S/25/0549 Status: Granted Description: Installation of 1no. BT Street Hub and removal of associated BT payphones. Application Number: S/ADV/25/0550 Status: Granted Description: Installation of 2no. digital 75" LCD display screens, one on each side of the Street Hub unit. Application Number: S/25/0551 Status: Granted Description: Installation of 1no.”

“Description: Installation of 2no. digital 75" LCD display screens, one on each side of the Street Hub unit. Application Number: S/25/0754 Status: Pending Description: Installation of 1no. BT Street Hub and removal of associated BT payphones. Application Number: S/ADV/25/0755 Status: Pending Description: Installation of 2no. digital 75" LCD display screens, one on each side of the Street Hub unit.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval, finding that the proposal supported economic growth and town-centre regeneration without visual, highway or amenity harm.

“The broad principle of the development is supported by virtue of Paragraph 119 of the NPPF and Policies SD1 and IN3 of the Local Plan. The proposal would support the growth of the local economy, comprise a modern and beneficial update of existing BT Technology and would complement Town Centre regeneration. This weighs heavily in favour of the proposal.”

“That planning permission be GRANTED subject to the planning conditions set out in this report.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The Highways Department raised no objection, while a ward councillor objected over appearance, safety, energy use, anti-social behaviour and cumulative impact.

“Consultees 6.1 Highways Department (25 th July 2025): No objection. No highways safety concerns identified.”

“Councillor Milner-Barry Councillor Milner-Barry (22 nd July 2025): Objection. Due to (in summary), Impact upon the character and appearance of the area. Pedestrian and vehicle safety. Use of energy/strain on the grid. Anti-social behaviour. Cumulative impact.”

Officer report

What people said

The objector said the hub could distract drivers, obstruct views, appear too large and harm the town-centre gateway image; nobody spoke in support.

Members’ discussion

Officers said the hub appeared sufficiently set back from the road to avoid obstructing views of pedestrians crossing.

“The responses provided by officers to questions raised as part of the Members only discussion can be broadly summarised as follows:”

“The proposed Hub appears to be set back sufficiently from the road so as to not obstruct road user’s view of pedestrians that may be looking to cross.”

Minutes

The vote

Members unanimously supported a proposal to refuse permission because of highway, pedestrian-safety and visual-impact concerns.

“Councillor Gary Sumner proposed that planning permission be refused on the basis that: the proposed Hub fails to conform with Policy TR2 of the Local Plan in that its location and siting would be detrimental to highway and pedestrian safety, and the proposed Hub fails to conform with Policy DE1 of the Local Plan in that it would have an unacceptable visual impact on the public realm. Councillor Matthew Courtliff seconded the proposal.”

Minutes

The decision

Planning permission was refused because the proposal did not comply with policies TR2 or DE1 due to adverse visual and highway-safety impacts.

“Resolved – That planning permission be refused, on the basis that the application does not comply with policies TR2 or DE1 of the Local Plan due to adverse impacts on visual amenity and highway safety. 40.”

Minutes