39 Milsom Street, City Centre

We object to the illumination element of the hanging sign and would request that this element is removed from the application. We note the planning agent has not referred to the SPD Commercial Signage and Tables/Chairs in the Conservation Area which specifically refers to illumination and the potential for harm to listed buildings. In this case we do not feel that further intrusion into the streetscene is necessary or justified, especially given that the hanging sign itself is a new intervention into Milsom Street and already has a cluttering effect on the street panorama.

Our usual stance is to object to hanging signs in Milsom Street, but in this and our earlier response to applications (specifically 16/01681/LBA) for this site, we recognised that given the lack of a shop frontage, the business did need to have some signage to advertise its location and therefore did not object to the hanging sign or the pin mounted lettering. We did of course object to the Dutch canopy, which we hope has been removed.

The proposed lighting to the hanging sign would neither preserve nor enhance the special interest of the listed building and would fail to maintain or enhance the character of the conservation area. It would therefore detract from the special qualities of the WHS. The scheme would be contrary to the Planning (Listed Building and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Section 16 (Conserving and Enhancing the Historic Environment) of the NPPF, policies B1, B4, and CP6 of the B&NES Core Strategy and policies CP6, D9, D8, HE1, BD1, B.4, of the Placemaking Plan. We would therefore recommend the application be amended to remove this element.