Agenda item

To consider a report of the Chief Planning Officer on the Listed Building application for the erection of banner signs and other signage to front and side elevations of Leeds City Museum

(report attached)

  Plans, photographs, drawings and precedent images were displayed at the meeting.  A Members site visit had taken place prior to the meeting

  The Central Area Planning Manager presented the report which sought permission for the erection of banner signs and other signage to the Leeds City Museum.  Previous proposals for banner signs had been presented to Panel at the meeting held on 27^th March 2008, with concerns being raised at the quality of the material being proposed and the fixings to be used (minute 136 refers).  Determination of that application had been deferred by Panel for further negotiations to take place.  A copy of the minute from that meeting was appended to the report

  Members were informed that a nationally renowned signage company had been appointed to consider the type of signage which would be suitable for the limited options which were available on this Grade II* Listed Building

  The proposals were for two 5m x 1m banner signs located on the pilasters of the main entrance of the building.  An alternative location would be the pilasters at each end of the front elevation but it was felt the banners would not be as visible in this location

  The material for the banners would be PVC which would be stretched taut and be attached to a simple horizontal fixing rail at the top and bottom.  The banner signs would be sited an equal distance from the side edges of the pilasters.  Members’ previous concerns relating to the fixtures had been taken on board with hidden, rust resistant fixings being used

  Details of the other signage which was proposed was provided, this being:

·  three signs on the Cookridge Street elevation advertising opening times, a menu board and a combined poster panel and opening times sign

·  three signs on the Vernon Street elevation comprising a sign to read ‘Leeds City Museum’; a disabled and groups entrance sign and a combined poster panel and opening times sign

Members were informed that appropriate signage for the Museum was

necessary for its future viability; that the proposals were considered to be acceptable and that the character of the building had been protected

  Members commented on the following matters:

·  that the existing A-boards at the top of the steps should be removed

·  concerns that the banner signs could flap in the wind and cause noise nuisance

·  the difference in the colour of the stone of the new build element and the reasons for the approach which had been taken to this

Officers provided the following responses:

·  that a condition requiring the removal of the A-boards could be attached to a permission

·  that if approved, an informative could be placed on the decision regarding the banner signs fixing mechanism if the signs flapped in the wind

·  that English Heritage had specified they did not wish to see the new stone colouring up to match the existing weathered stone of the Museum, but rather allow this to colour up naturally over a period of time

RESOLVED -  

Application 10/00339/LI

To approve the application in principle and refer the application to the

Secretary of State as it is a listed building application by the City Council for a Grade II* listed building which is in the Council’s ownership.  In the event of the Secretary of State not wishing to intervene, to delegate final approval to the Chief Planning Officer subject to the conditions specified in the submitted report, plus any others which he might consider appropriate)

  Application 10/00756/ADV

  To approve advertisement consent subject to the conditions outlined in the submitted report, an additional condition to exclude the external use of A-boards in relation to the museum and cafe (plus any other conditions as the Chief Planning Officer may consider appropriate) and the placing of an informative on the decision of the need to revisit the banner signs fixing mechanism if they flap in the wind