Brighton Planning were asked to appeal a planning decision which refused consent for a new commercial shop front in a High Street in London. The reason for refusing the application related to the materials and proportions of the new shopfront. The council did not think that the new shopfront respected the character and appearance of the high street or the Conservation Area and therefore did not meet the necessary planning policies. Brighton Planning looked at the history of the site, the previous changes to the shop front and those made in the area. Brighton Planning carefully set out the case that the current reiteration was no more harmful than the previous shop front deign that had been in situ since the 1980’s. Our appeal explained that the overall design was contemporary and vibrant and contributed positively to the town centre, and like many other new shopfronts locally, was not harmful to the Conservation Area.
The Inspector upheld this view, setting out in his decision that the high street comprised not only Victorian buildings but Victorian buildings that had undergone a high degree of alteration as a result of the changing commercial functions and this was recognized in the Conservation Area appraisal. The Inspector concluded that the new shop front reflected the evolution of shop fronts in the area and preserved the vibrant character of the High Street without causing harm to it’s historic significance, and was an enhancement upon the shop front that it replaced.
Appeal Ref: APP/C5690/W/3341729