Guidance
Note 2
Advertisement Control |
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INTRODUCTION
1. Advertisements play an important
role in our lives, they provide information and an awareness of services and
products. To serve their purpose,
advertisements must command attention through the careful selection of sites,
sizes, colours and, in some cases, methods of illumination. If there were no planning controls,
advertisers would compete with each other by exaggerating each of their
characteristics and the resulting clamour for attention would have serious
effects on the appearance of our towns.
2. In order to strike a balance
between the conflicting interests of freedoms for advertisers and the
appearance of surrounding areas, central government has provided regulations
specifying which advertisements need express consent (see The Town and Country
Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Scotland) Regulations 1984.
GENERAL
GUIDANCE ON ADVERTISEMENTS
On Listed
Buildings and within Conservation Areas
3. Within Conservation Areas and on
Listed Buildings (Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest) new
advertisements must be properly related to the architectural design of the
buildings on which they are displayed. Particular attention will be paid to the
size of lettering, and dignified styles should be employed with illumination
restricted to lettering only. This also applies in the Townscape Protection
Areas.
Advance
Warning Signs for Individual Premises
4. Advanced signs (not at the site
of the business to which the advertisement relates) will generally be opposed,
except for the purposes of road safety to give information to the public; and
where signs are not detrimental to the interests of amenity or road safety.
Advertisements
on Buildings
5. In determining applications for
consent to display advertisements on buildings, the Council will pay particular
attention to design, dimensions, illumination and position of the advertisement
together with its impact on the building. The Council will not permit
advertisements which would have a detrimental effect on the amenity and
character of the street. In the interests of amenity, and in order to avoid
clutter, the number of advertisements should be restricted to a minimum. In a
town centre, illumination can be attractive at night relieving possible drab
surroundings.
Tourist
Signposting
6. All signing for the purpose of
tourism should adhere to the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Tourist
Signposting Policy. This policy is
available from the Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Tourist Board and East
Dunbartonshire Council Planning Department.
Enforcement
7. In the case of unauthorised
signs, the Council will use its standard enforcement procedure and will secure
the removal of unacceptable signs through the powers contained in the
Regulations. These Regulations include the right to challenge signs which do
not require express consent. Therefore, discussion with the Planning Office is
always advisable.
DETAILED
GUIDANCE ON TYPES OF ADVERTISEMENTS
8. This guide has been prepared to
assist potential applicants.
Advance
Warning Signs for Individual Premises
9. Location - Where the principle of
an individual sign is accepted, the display should normally comprise one double
sided sign at the public/private road junction leading directly to the premises
advertised. A series of repetitive signs will not be acceptable. In cases where
two or more advance signs are justified at one road junction, the use of a
composite sign will be encouraged. All signs must be erected outwith the
highway boundary. Sites with a visual backdrop of existing trees, bushes and
walls will be preferred.
10 .Scale and Design - The overall
size of individual advance signs shall not normally exceed 1200mm x 600mm or be
more than 2 metres in height from ground level. The signs should contain only
explanatory information rather than general advertising. The maximum size of
letter will depend on traffic speed.
11. Illumination - Illumination will
be permitted providing it can be done without prejudice to road safety. Where
downlighting is to be used preference will be given to downlighting units of the
same colour as the fascia. External
illumination is preferred.
Figure 1
Sign Boards
Shops and
Offices
12. Location - In general terms,
advertisements on commercial premises should be restricted to the fascia area
of those premises having fascia displays. Only one projecting sign per
commercial frontage will generally be allowed. The lower edge of such a sign
must be at least 2450mm above pavement level and must be set back at least
500mm from the kerb.
13. Scale and Design - The size of
any advertisement should be related to the scale and form of the building on
which it is displayed. Strong consideration should be given to Guidance Note 1,
paragraph 7, prior to any application that includes fascia advertisement being
submitted. The depth of any fascia should either be made to fit the space
designed for it or where no such space exists, it’s depth should not exceed
700mm or one half of the vertical size between the top of the shopfront and the
sill of the first floor window, which ever is the smaller.
Figure 2
Shopfront
Advertisement
Figure 3
Unacceptable
Shop Sign
14. Lettering should generally be
restricted to 300mm unless on a large scale building. Signs consisting of
painted letters or individually fixed letters on a plain background are
generally preferable to using shiny acrylic panels, as this allows scope for variety,
individuality and character.
15. The display of large projecting
signs and advertisements on walls, forecourt walls and fences are discouraged.
With regard to projecting box signs, these should be no more than 600mm deep or
the depth of the fascia, whichever is the smaller, and should not normally
exceed 600mm x 600mm in dimension.
Figure 4
Projective
Sign
16. Illumination - Preference will
be given to signs with individual illuminated letters and fascias illuminated
by down lighters or trough lighting as will projecting signs with down
lighters. Illuminated advertisements should not normally be located above first
floor level except where it can be demonstrated that the position proposed is
essential in relation to the function of the building. Illuminated signs must
not resemble or be erected in close proximity to official highway signs or
traffic lights.
Figure 5
Illumination
Hotels,
Public Houses and Restaurants
17. Location - Generally, a greater
amount of display is appropriate due to dependence on passing trade, although
stricter control will be necessary where they relate to listed buildings or are
located in Conservation Areas. One
projecting sign on each frontage is the preferred arrangement, with any further
signs being wall mounted. Where the building is set back, consideration will be
given to a free standing sign and directional signs. In general the use of
standard signs for specific products should be avoided.
18. Scale and Design - Scale should
be carefully related to that of the building and should not mask architectural
features. Encouragement will be given to the use of individual designed signs
in preference to standard “company” signs.
19. Illumination - Illumination of
signs is acceptable for these types of uses. External illumination of fascia,
projecting or free standing pole mounted signs are preferable to internally
illuminated box signs. In some instances floodlighting may be appropriate and
applicants should contact the Planning Office on this matter.
Garages and
Petrol Filling Stations
20. Location - The appropriate
levels of display would normally comprise of a pole mounted sign or identity
sign, either on the fascia of the building or on the canopy. It has become
usual to allow a further sign affixed to the pole mounted sign to display price
or special offers.
21. Scale and Design - There has
been considerable rationalising by the large petrol companies, and this has
been a generally satisfactory trend.
However, proliferation of associated uses such as car washes and general
shops, could lead to pressure for a greater amount of advertising. This will
only be allowed where the overall level of advertising is not excessive.
22. Illumination - It is appropriate
for the pole mounted sign, and the company name and logo to be illuminated.
Additional illumination, of the entire canopy fascia in particular, is
considered excessive and will not be allowed.
Industrial
Buildings
23. Locations - Advertisements
identifying businesses or their products should generally be confined to the
walls of the building, although free standing signs may be allowed where there
are large yards or forecourts.
24. Scale and Design - Generally,
the scale of signs and lettering should not be excessive in relation to the
size of the building.
25. Illumination - Illumination of
advertisements may be appropriate for the identification of individual
properties within an industrial area, but not be of a level which would cause
nuisance to neighbouring residential areas.
Free Standing
and Functional Signs (Hoardings and Display Panels)
26. Location - These signs may be
acceptable in small gap sites in urban areas, particularly those of a temporary
nature, where it is proposed that a new building is to be erected. New
hoardings are unlikely to be acceptable in rural areas, Conservation Areas,
Townscape Protection Areas, predominantly residential areas, open areas within
the urban area and on or beside Listed Buildings.
27. Scale and Design - The scale and
design of a hoarding should be related to the size and layout of the site.
Where a gap site is involved a generous landscaping treatment should be
incorporated. If free standing, it should be integrated into the framework of a
wall, fence or purpose designed structure.
28. Illumination - In areas where
hoardings may be allowed there will normally be adequate levels of street
lighting and further illumination is considered inappropriate.
Fly-posting
29. The Planning and Compensation
Act 1991 Part II gives Planning Authorities power to remove ‘fly-posting’ of
posters and placards where these cause a nuisance or harm the amenity of an
area. The Council will exercise their powers to remove ‘fly-posters’ where
appropriate.
Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to
contact :
The Planning Office, Development Quality Section,
The Triangle,
Bishopbriggs G64 2TR
Tel: 0141 578 8000