24_0580_AD River Inn Screens FINAL
Renfrewshire Council · 5 November 2024
Back to Planning and Climate Change Policy Board — 5 November 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
Report by Chief Planning Officer Planning and Climate Change Policy Board: 5 November 2024 Reference No 24/0580/AD Application Type Advert Consent Proposal Display of double sided freestanding digital advertising hoarding Location The River Inn, Houston Road, Crosslee Ward 10 - Houston, Crosslee and Linwood Community Council Houston Community Council Applicant Mr Lianne Gannon Mediascape Ltd Recommendation Grant Subject to Conditions All plans, reports, documents and representations relating to this application can be viewed in full online at https://pl-bs.renfrewshire.gov.uk/online- applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SIGE7LMWJLT00 The report is presented to the Planning and Climate Change Policy Board in line with the Council's Scheme of Delegation. In this instance, Cllrs Andy Doig, Audrey Doig and Innes have requested that the application be determined by the Board, rather than officers, as they deem it controversial. Proposal This application seeks advertisement consent for the display of a double sided freestanding digital advertising hoarding on Houston Road, Crosslee. The screens would sit approximately 2.3 metres from the ground and would measure approximately 2 metres in height by 2 metres in width. The supporting columns and the frame would be grey in colour. The digital screens would replace an existing double sided, externally illuminated advertisement that currently stands in the same location. Site Description The application site is located at the entrance to the car park of The River Inn, with the Inn itself found to the north. Residential properties are found to the east and northwest of the site while an area of open space is found to the west. The river Gryfe is found to the south. Pre-Application Consultation with Officers The Scottish Government strongly encourages constructive pre-application discussions between prospective applicants and the planning authority. Pre-application discussions seek to identify key planning considerations at an early stage and help inform what supporting information is required to support a subsequent application. No pre-application discussions have taken place. Negotiated Improvements No changes have been negotiated. Site History The planning history for the site is as follows; if no history is listed then planning has no record of previous applications for the site. Application No: 20/0354/PP Description: Erection of three pergolas (in retrospect) Decision: Grant
Page 2
Application No: 13/0611/PP Description: Installation of three air conditioning units, intake grill and one extract flue to the rear elevation and siting of one steel container (Retrospect). Decision: Withdrawn Application No: 14/0048/PP Description: Installation of plant to roof and rear of building; siting of container and erection of fence at rear (in retrospect). Decision: Grant subject to conditions Application No: 07/0044/PP Description: Repair to roof and addition of profiled metal sheeting to replace roofing felt (In Retrospect). Decision: Grant Consultations Chief Executive's Service (Roads Development) – no objection, subject to conditions. Houston Community Council – do not object but have raised questions around road safety, light pollution and the impact the screens would have on the feel of the village. Have also stated that the decision should be consistent with the decision made in relation to application 23/0649/AD. Representations The application has been publicised in line with the requirements of the relevant legislation. The following representations were received: Object – 5 Support – 1 Neutral – 1 The issues raised can be summarised as follows: 1. Would cause light pollution that would affect residents, wildlife and flying insects. 2. Not in keeping with the village setting. 3. Would appear out of place. 4. Would distract drivers and raise road safety concerns. 5. The existing signage is more appropriate for the location. The board of the River Inn have also provided a statement detailing how the screens would help support the business. Policy Context In making any determination under the Planning Acts, regard is to be had to the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. In this instance the Development Plan consists of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and the Renfrewshire Local Development Plan (2021) (LDP). The following provisions of the Development Plan are considered relevant to the determination of this application: National Planning Framework 4 Policy 14 - Design, quality and place
Page 3
Full details relating to the policies of the NPF4 can be found online. Renfrewshire Local Development Plan Policy P1 - Renfrewshire's Places Full details relating to the policies of the LDP can be found online. Other relevant policies and guidance Renfrewshire Council Display of Advertisement Guidance 2022 Submitted Reports and Assessments No reports or assessments were submitted in support of the application. Planning Assessment The display of advertisements is controlled by the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Scotland) Regulations 1984. In considering proposals for advertisements, determination by a Planning Authority is based on two criteria: public safety and amenity. Renfrewshire Council's approved guidance for the display of advertisements is used as the basis for assessing advertisement proposals: Public Safety The signage would be positioned back from the public road so that it would not impede the movement of pedestrians, cyclists or vehicles. Existing sightlines for traffic entering and exiting the car park would be maintained. Conditions that limit the brightness, transition and refresh rate of the displays would ensure that any illumination does not distract road users. Similarly, a condition can be added to prohibit the display of moving images. Officers from Roads Development have reviewed the proposal and, subject to the above conditions, have not objected. As such, the screens would not raise any concerns in relation to public safety. Amenity As the digital screens would replace an existing externally illuminated static display in the same location, the proposal would not increase the amount of signage at the site. The screens would be visible to those entering Crosslee from the south as well as leaving from the north. Given the built up nature of the location it is not considered that the screens would appear out of place, especially given they would be positioned within the car park of a public house. The screens would be 28 metres away from the nearest property to the northwest and 34 metres away from the nearest property to the east. The river to the south and area of open space to the west would not be affected by the proposal given the separation distance. Furthermore, the conditions discussed above would further minimise the impact the screens would have on the amenity of the surrounding area. The screens themselves would be of a standard design that would be appropriate for their location within the car park of a public house while the grey supporting frames would be acceptable. As such, it is considered that the signage does not have a detrimental impact on the amenity of the surrounding area.
Page 4
Representations Officers from Roads Development have reviewed the proposal and, subject to the above conditions, found that it raises no road safety concerns. The condition controlling the brightness of the screens would help ensure they do not raise concerns for wildlife and flying insects. Given the screens would be 28 metres from the nearest residential property it is not considered that the brightness would have a negative impact on residential amenity. The representation made by an objector advising that the existing signage is more appropriate for the location is noted but is not a material consideration in the determination of this application. All other issues have been addressed in the above report. Conclusion In view of the above, the proposals are found to be acceptable in terms of both safety and amenity. It is therefore recommended that the application is granted subject to conditions. Recommendation Grant Subject to Conditions Reason(s) for Recommendation 1. The proposal accords with the provisions of the Development Plan and there were no material considerations which outweighed the presumption in favour of development according with the Development Plan. Condition(s) 1. The approved advertisements shall not display moving images, animation, video or full motion images. Reason: In the interests of vehicular safety and to safeguard the amenity of the surrounding area. 2. The brightness of the screen shall not exceed 2000 cd/m². Reason: In the interests of vehicular safety and to safeguard the amenity of the surrounding area. 3. The transition between images shall occur by a fading transition effect only. Reason: In the interests of vehicular safety. Advisory Note(s) 1. None required. Schedule of Plans Determined Drawing Number Revision Drawing/Document Title - Location Plan - Elevations as Proposed E01 Front and Side Elevation
Page 5
For further information please contact James McCafferty, Development Standards Team, Email: james.mccafferty@renfrewshire.gov.uk.