Council and democracy
Home > Council and Democracy > Issue
41 16/1242/ADV - North West Cambridge Development Site, Madingley Road and Huntingdon Road. PDF 105 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Committee
considered an application for the erection of two temporary illuminated totem
signs on Madingley Road and Huntingdon Road. The
signs would be erected on a temporary basis for a period of 3 years in order to
assist with the opening of the store.
Brian Nearny (Applicants Agent) addressed the Committee in
support of the application.
The
Committee made the following comments in response to the report:
During the
course of discussion Members:
i.
Highlighted the concerns of residents on the impact
on Huntingdon Road, the scale of the signs and their illumination. The location
of the signs within the Cambridge Green Belt in close proximity to a major
traffic light junction.
ii. Commented that the
proposed signage defied the notion that the store was intended for use by local
people and would encourage other retailers in the area to make similar
applications.
iii. Questioned whether a wayfinding scheme on site would represent an adequate
replacement to the proposed signage that was more akin to an out of town
supermarket.
iv. Expressed concern
regarding the size of the signs.
v. Expressed concerns
regarding the lack of consultation with Girton Parish
Council and that the signs were merely advertisements designed to attract
passing trade.
vi. Drew attention to the
potential for increased traffic congestion that would be caused by the signs
attracting additional custom to the store and noted that another store on
Newmarket Road that was under construction did not have such large, illuminated
signage.
In response to
Member comments officers explained that the visual impact of the sign would
reduce as foliage at the site matured and emphasised that the signs were
temporary and intended to assist the store in establishing itself.
The Committee:
Resolved (unanimously) to refuse planning permission contrary to
the officer recommendation for the following reasons; the proposed two totem
signs by reason of their prominent location, height, width and illumination
would be unduly strident and out of character with their surrounding context on
two key approaches into the City. As such the proposal would cause
significant harm to visual amenity, contrary to policies NW2 and NW4 of the
North West Cambridge Area Action Plan 2009, government guidance contained
within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2012 and the Town and
County Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 for the reason above.