We’ve had a few businesses asking about what the rules shop signage are recently.
If you’re considering new shop signage please be aware that if signage is unlawful Leeds City Council can make the owner take it down or they could take legal action, so best to check first.
As most of Otley town centre is designated Conservation Area, signs shouldn’t be internally illuminated or illuminated by external lighting. However, it’s a bit more complicated than you might think and, of course, we all want our historic town centre to look in-keeping. So to avoid problems here is some general guidance which we hope you will find helpful.
Guidance (as at November 2024)
The erection of advertising, such as shop signage, is governed by the Town and County Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007.
The definition of advertising includes “any word, letter, model, sign, placard, board, notice, awning, blind, device or representation, whether illuminated or not, in the nature of, and employed wholly or partly for the purposes of, advertisement, announcement or direction. Importantly, this does not only include commercial signs, but any exterior building signage including the hoardings and other structures used to display it.”
The government guidance on this also dates from 2007:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/outdoor-advertisements-and-signs-a-guide-for-advertisers
This has been interpreted by various local authorities for their localities, for example here’s the version Medway council published:
file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/Shopfront_advertising_design_guide_for_historic_buildings.pdf
As most of Otley town centre is designated Conservation Area, signs shouldn’t be internally illuminated or illuminated by external lighting.
As regards regular fascia signage, a new sign needs an Advertising Consent application (£120*), a planning application (£165*) and, if in the Conservation Area, a Listed Building Consent application (free*). If you submit these using Leeds City Councils online planning portal it’s another £70*.
As regards window decals or window painting, neither of these guidance documents specifically make provision for window decals, so we believe if a window decal or painting shows an image then it’s probably exempt but if it contains a business name then it could be caught by the regulations, although that may be a grey area.
If you’re considering installing new signage, best to check with Leeds CC Development Control Enquiry Centre first, 0113 222 4444 and dec@leeds.gov.uk.
It all sounds like a bit of a faff but unlawful signage does run risk being made to be taken down, or legal action taken against the business owner, which none of us want. But, of course, we all want our historic town centre to look in-keeping.
*Prices listed at time of writing 21/11/24.