A retrospective planning application for a large industrial scale sign located at the junction of Mardale Road and Hawswater Road on the Penrith industrial estate has been dismissed by a planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.
The appeal was filed after the Eden Council refused the application in February, citing concerns over visual amenity and adherence to planning policies.
The sign, installed in April 2022 at the Jeld Wen site, prominently displayed the company name along with information on accident statistics and directional signage for delivery vehicle access to the site. A retrospective planning application was submitted in May 2022; however, due to delays in the former Eden Council planning department, the decision was not issued until February 2023.
The council's planning department refused the retrospective application, stating that the sign's appearance, scale, massing, and location resulted in an incongruous form of advertising. According to the council, the sign's placement in a highly visible area caused detrimental harm to the visual amenity of the surroundings, contravening policies DEV5 and EC5 of the Eden Local Plan, as well as national planning policy framework and guidance.
In response to the council's refusal, the firm filed a planning appeal with the Secretary of State-appointed planning inspector. The inspector visited the site and examined the signage and the local area. In the subsequent decision to dismiss the appeal, the inspector highlighted two main issues: the effect of the advert on the amenity of the area and public safety.
Regarding amenity, the inspector noted that while the sign received support from visitors and delivery drivers, its size and location posed significant concerns. The sign extended 15 meters along the corner of a road junction and stood 2.4 meters high, appearing to be as tall as the building behind it. Its position and scale made it highly obtrusive, dominating the industrial estate's visual landscape. The inspector also pointed out that no evidence had been provided to compare the sign's size with other nearby signage, further highlighting its excessive dimensions.
The inspector considered the industrial estate to be well maintained and organized but concluded that the proposed sign was out of scale and overly large for its location, adversely affecting the visual amenity of the area. This determination led to a conflict with the Eden Local Plan's policies DEV5 and EC5, as well as paragraph 136 of the National Planning Policy Framework, which aim to support high-quality design and prevent adverse effects on amenity.
Considering the development plan as a whole and all relevant material considerations, the planning inspector decision was that the appeal was dismissed.
Westmorland and Furness council as the areas new planning authority will not have to consider enforcement actions if the signage remains without any planning approval following the appeal decision to uphold the council’s original refusal for the retrospective application.
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