Build A Bear, Southgate Street, City Centre

The Trust objects to this application on the basis of materials, colour and illumination. Whilst we accept that signage in the Southgate precinct can have some additional flexibility to that in the historic core, we find the colours to be garish, the materials of aluminium and acrylic to be low quality and the proposed internal illumination to be harmful to the character of the townscape. We remind the applicant that Southgate is within the conservation area and therefore the Guidance on Commercial Signage in the Conservation area does apply.

The proposed scheme by virtue of its materials, colour and illumination would neither preserve nor enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area, would be detrimental to the visual amenity of the street scene and would detract from the special qualities of the WHS. The scheme would be contrary to sections 16 and 66 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Section 12 (Conserving and Enhancing the Historic Environment) of the NPPF, policies B1, B2, B4, and CP6 of the B&NES Core Strategy and policies CP6, HE1, D.9, B.4, B.2 of the Placemaking Plan. We would therefore strongly recommend the application be withdrawn or refused.