BT Street Hub at Pavement Outside Of 26 Bridge Street, Swindon
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Swindon Planning Committee on 9 Dec 2025.
What was proposed
The application proposed one BT Street Hub, with associated payphone removal and two digital display screens covered by a separate application.
“The application site is an area of adopted highway controlled land, located on the pavement outside of 26 Bridge Street in Swindon Town Centre. This section of Bridge Street is a pedestrian only area which can be described as an ‘arterial route’ for pedestrian shoppers in Swindon town centre. The street scene context immediate to the application site is generally commercial and comprises of a number of shops, commercial services.”
“The application seeks planning permission for the installation of 1no. BT Street Hub.. The application has been submitted in conjunction with advertisement consent application (S/ADV/25/0759) to display 2no. digital 75" LCD display screens, one on each side of the proposed BT Street Hub unit.”
Officer report
Planning history
There was no relevant site history, while 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.”
“…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. Application Number: S/25/0756 Status: Refused Description: Installation of 1no. BT Street Hub and removal of associated BT payphones.”
Officer report
Consultation responses
Highways raised no objection, no parish comments were received, and a councillor objected over character, safety, energy, anti-social behaviour and cumulative impact.
“Consultees 6.1 Highways Department (28 th July 2025): No objection. No highways safety concerns identified.”
“Councillor Milner-Barry Councillor Milner-Barry (4 th August 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
Objections at the meeting
The objection focused on character, future regeneration, policy conflict, anti-social behaviour, footway obstruction and possible distraction or dazzle.
“Submissions made in objection to the application can be broadly summarised as follows:”
“The proposed location for the Street Hub is within the “Heart of Swindon” area, which will be the focus of significant regeneration in the coming years. The Street Hub being positioned in this area now may negatively impact the character of the regenerated area in the years to come. • The proposal conflicts with Policy DE1 of the Swindon Borough Local Plan.”
Minutes
Committee debate
Members heard that phonebox removal was not required, advertising consent could be decided separately, and the hub might enliven the street.
“The responses provided by officers to questions raised as part of the Members only discussion can be broadly summarised as follows:”
“The planning permission sought by the applicant would not require them to remove any existing phone boxes in order to install the proposed Street Hubs. • Planning Committee are empowered to consent the planning permission sought in this case and separately refuse advertising consent, or vice versa. • No revenue generated by the Street Hub’s digital advertising boards would be returned to the Council.”
Minutes
The committee vote
The refusal motion received four votes in favour and five against, while the approval motion received five votes in favour and four against.
“Four Councillors were in favour of the proposal from Councillors Junab Ali and Gary Sumner to refuse planning permission and five were opposed to the proposal.”
“Five Councillors were in favour of the proposal from Councillors Jake Chandler and Matthew Courtliff to grant planning permission, subject to the conditions set out in the Case Officer’s report and four were opposed to the proposal.”
Minutes
The decision
Planning permission was granted subject to the conditions set out in the case officer’s report.
“Resolved – That planning permission be granted, subject to the conditions set out in the Case Officer’s report. 52.”
Minutes
Sources
- Swindon Planning Committee minutes, 9 December 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Swindon's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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- Committee
- Swindon Planning Committee
- Council
- Swindon
- Date
- Tuesday 9 December 2025
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
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This committee's year
23 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.