The Hove branch of Pizza Express can have new lit-up signs but a planning application for an awning has been turned down on appeal.
The Church Road branch was granted planning permission by Brighton and Hove City Council for two a number of signs, some of them illuminated, inside and on the outside of the building.
But planning officials refused permission for an awning because it would “dominate” the front of the property at 107 Church Road, a grade II listed building in the Avenues Conservation Area in central Hove.
The council said: “The awning by reason of its size, fixtures and positioning dominates the front elevation of the property and obscures the original fascia, pilasters and top of the windows of this historic shop front.
“By concealing these important architectural features, the works harm the historical significance of the grade II listed building and the character and appearance of the wider Avenues Conservation Area.”
Planning inspector Nicholas Perrins, said that although the awning had a function, it would “conceal some of the listed building’s architectural features”.
In refusing the appeal, Mr Perrins said: “The obscuring of these important architectural features detracts from the special appearance and character of the listed building as well as the conservation area, resulting in clear harm to heritage assets.
“As the awning does not completely obscure all the listed features and can be retracted, I conclude that the proposal has less than substantial harm to the aforementioned heritage assets.
“The less than substantial harm from the proposal does, however, result in clear harm to the visual amenity of the area.”
It’s this the same planning officer who is responsible for demanding the Paris wine bar (only 30 metres away) to dismantle is very prestigious garden structure. What can I say. He states the listed facia of the Pizza Express is compromised by the awning. From where I stand the shopfront is like every other along the same stretch and must be considered just that…a shop front. It is retractable so is not permanent. Does this basically faceless person support Hove business or is his job to a thorn in their sides. Isn’t Sainsbury’s about to open over the road. Someone should warn them of this jobsworth, supposedly servant of the people.
Don’t worry, Sainsburys will be allowed to do as they like as they have bigger lawyers\bribes. Only local business gets denied.
And there is no word about the shack the other side of Tisbury Road which was built on Church Road without permission.
Yet it’s fine to open 8 vape shops across the city, not apply for planning permission and make them look like something out of a back street in turkey, and place crack pipes on display in the windows.
But is you dare to fix a garden or put up something as minor as an awning… Head is for the block.
If there is no brown envelop on a golf course the planning officer isn’t interested in passing it
So, spend the awning money on large movable erectable parasols with infra red heaters. Parasol for sun and heaters for evenings. Don’t need planning,??
Just because one business is allowed something does not mean another will be.
In this case the application was rejected (in part) by the council and, after the applicant appealed re the awning, an inspector from the Planning Inspectorate (part of the goverment) dismissed the appeal.
What is happening with the Paris Bar is a totally different matter.
Vape shops don’t require planning permission for change of use if the premises is already classified as a retail business so the council can’t ban them. Whether they should be able to or not is again a totally different issue. If anyone has concerns about what they are selling then trading standards will be happy to hear from you.
The I 360 is nice