Two digital display screens at Pavement Outside Of Regent Circus, Swindon

What was proposed

The application sought consent for two digital 75-inch LCD screens, one on each side of a new BT Street Hub unit.

“Proposal: Installation of 2no. digital 75" LCD display screens, one on each side of the Street Hub unit.”

“The application seeks advertisement consent to display 2no. digital 75" LCD display screens, one on each side of a new BT Street Hub unit. The application has been submitted in conjunction with a full planning application (S/25/0752) to install the associated BT Street Hub.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The screens would be on pavement beside Regent Circus, among shops, commercial services, street furniture and some upper-floor residential use.

“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.”

“Hall building around 75 metres to the west of the application site. As intervening street features and furniture would obscure any visual relationship and setting ‘connection’ between said listed building and the application site. No other relevant area of special protection would be affected by the proposal.”

Officer report

Related applications

Earlier wider-area Street Hub and screen applications included granted and refused cases, while this application and related cases were 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/ADV/25/0753 Status: Pending 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.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval, finding no detrimental impact on visual or aural amenity or public safety, subject to conditions controlling illumination and content.

“Officers are therefore satisfied that there would be no detrimental impact on visual and aural amenity in the immediate vicinity for the display of advertisement, in accordance with the Polices and Guidance set out above.”

“Officers are therefore satisfied that (subject to the planning conditions set out in this report), there would be no detrimental impact upon public safety in accordance with the Polices and Guidance set out above.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The Highways Department raised no objection subject to illumination and content conditions, while the parish council made no comment.

“Consultees 6.1 Highways Department (25 th July 2025): No objection. Subject to conditions to limit the intensity of illumination and screen content.”

Officer report

Objections and comments

Councillor Milner-Barry objected on appearance, safety, energy use, anti-social behaviour and cumulative-impact grounds; no adjacent occupiers commented.

“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.”

“Third-Party Representations 6.4 Letters were sent to occupiers of properties adjacent to the site. No comments were received. Policy and Legislative Context…”

Officer report

Who spoke

No one spoke in support, and there were no additional objectors; members noted Councillor Milner-Barry’s written objection.

Members’ concerns

Members considered the proposal’s location and siting detrimental to highway and pedestrian safety and its visual impact unacceptable in the public realm.

“Councillor Gary Sumner proposed that advertising consent 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 committee’s decision

Advertising consent was refused because the application did not comply with Policies TR2 or DE1 due to adverse amenity and public-safety impacts.

“Resolved – That advertising consent 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 amenity and public safety…”

Minutes