Appendix 16

Derry City and Strabane District Council Planning Committee Report

COMMITTEE DATE: 6th November 2019

APPLICATION NO: LA11/2019/0681/A

APPLICATION TYPE: Advertisement Consent

DATE OF APPLICATION: 01.08.2019

PROPOSAL: 2 Projecting signs, 2 wall mounted signs & 1 LED media screen.

LOCATION: Ground Floor, 1-3 Waterloo Place, Derry, Co. Londonderry, BT48 6BT

APPLICANT: Derry & Strabane District Council

AGENT: Hamilton Architects

RECOMMENDATION: APPROVE

ADVERTISEMENT: None required for Advertisement Consent

REASON FOR PRESENTATION TO COMMITTEE: Council is the applicant

All planning application forms, drawings, consultations, letters, representations etc. relating to this

planning application are available to view on www.planningni.gov.uk

1. Description of Proposed Development

This proposal is for the provision of 2 Projecting signs, 2 wall mounted signs & 1 LED media screen

in association with the Visitor Information Centre proposed on the ground floor of 1-3 Waterloo

Place. The signs will be located on both street elevations of the building above the entrance

canopy proposed and window openings onto Waterloo Place.

2. EIA Determination

This application has been screened by Council and as the development is not within a category

listed in either Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 of The Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment)

Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015, it is therefore considered that an EIA determination is not

required.

Appendix 16

3. Habitats Regulations Assessment

Assessment under the Habitats Regulations is not required for this proposal. There are no

waterways directly abutting this site and this proposal is for signage attached to the existing

building. Therefore, as there is no hydrological link, it is unlikely that there will any adverse effects

from development works on integrity of any National or European site.

There are no trees or landscape features which will be impacted by this proposal. Therefore, it is

unlikely that this proposal will adversely affect a priority species or their habitat which is afforded

protection.

4. Site and Surrounding Area

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the application site as defined by the red line consists of a three

storey irregular shaped building which front faces onto Waterloo Place and the rear backs onto

the City Walls. This building dates from the 1970’s and is finished in painted render with dark grey

aluminium windows and doors.

Figure 1 - Site Location

Appendix 16

Figure 2 - Application Site viewed from Waterloo Place

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5. Site Constraints

Archaeological Sites and Monuments

Listed Building Curtilage

Historic City Conservation Area

Area of Archaeological Potential

6. Neighbour Notifications

No neighbour notification required for Advertisement Consent.

7. Recent Relevant Site History

REFERENCE PROPOSAL DECISION & DATE

LA11/2019/0687/F Fit out of existing commercial, ground floor units to

include and entrance canopy, visitor information

centre, toilets & Staff facilities

To be determined

Appendix 16

A/2012/0003/F Refurbishment NIHE offices with DDA improvement to

stairs and lift. New retail to all ground and basement

levels and speculative office space to all other floors.

Full external renovations.

Permission

Granted

18.09.2012

8. Policy Framework

Regional Development Strategy (RDS) 2035

Derry Area Plan (DAP) 2011

Policy BE 1 Urban Design

Policy BE 2 Listed Buildings

Policy B4 4 Conservation Areas

Policy BE 5 Development Adjacent The Walls

Policy BE 7 Archaeological Sites and Monuments and Historic Landscapes

Policy BE 8 Monuments in State Care

Policy BE 11 Access to Buildings for People with Disabilities

Policy COM 1 Role of Commercial Core

Policy TU 1 Tourism Development

Policy TU 2 Tourism Design Considerations

Policy TU 3 Existing Tourism Facilities

Proposal CA 1 Central Area

Proposal CA 2 The Commercial Core

Proposal CA 3 Primary Retail Frontages

Proposal CA 6 Civic and Education Uses

Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland (SPPS) 2015

Planning Policy Statement 17: The Control of Outdoor Advertisements

Policy AD 1 Amenity and Public Safety

Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning Archaeology and the Built Heritage (PPS 6)

Policy BH 1 The Preservation of Archaeological Remains of Regional Importance and their

Settings

Appendix 16

Policy BH 2 The Protection of Archaeological Remains of Local Importance and their

Settings

Policy BH 3 Archaeological Assessment and Evaluation

Policy BH 4 Archaeological Mitigation

Policy BH 11 Development affecting the Setting of a Listed Building

Policy BH 12 New Development in a Conservation Area

Policy BH 13 The Control of Advertisements in a Conservation Area

Planning Policy Statement 3: Access, Movement and Parking (PPS 3)

Policy AMP 1 Creating an Accessible Environment

Policy AMP 2 Access to Public Roads

Policy AMP 7 Car Parking and Servicing Arrangements

9. Consultee Responses

DFI Roads have no objections to the proposal.

Historic Environment Division (HED) are content with the proposal and have provided

standard advice.

10. Representations

There have been no letters of support or objection submitted in relation to this application.

11. Planning Assessment and Other Material Considerations

Section 6 (4) of The Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 requires Council to make planning

decisions in accordance with the local development plan, unless material considerations indicate

otherwise.

The proposal has been assessed against the policy framework listed in paragraph 8 and all other

material considerations.

Appendix 16

As this an application for advertisement consent within the Historic City Conservation Area, Policy

AD1 Amenity and Public Safety of PPS 17 and Policies BH 12 and BH 13 of PPS 6 provides the

primary policy consideration.

Policy AD 1 states that consent will be given for the display of an advertisement where:

It respects amenity, when assessed in the context of the general characteristics of the locality;

and

It does not prejudice public safety.

Policy BH 13 states that Council will not normally grant consent for the display of advertisements in or

close to a conservation area which would adversely affect the character, appearance or setting of the area

or which would be detrimental to public safety. Policy BH 12 seeks to ensure that the scale, form and

materials of the new development are sympathetic with the character of the area and that important views

within, into and out of, the area are protected. Policy BH 2 is also relevant given the location of the site

nearby the historic Derry’s Walls (LDY 14:33) which is a monument in State Care, and Policy BH 2

considers the potential impacts that such proposals may have on archaeological remains of local

importance. The impact that the proposed signage may have on the setting of any nearby listed

buildings is considered under Policy BH 11.

Therefore, new advertisements should not detract visually from that amenity or diminish the

archaeology and built heritage of the area, and should not impact over long distance views.

As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4 below, the signs proposed include:

A metal box sign with an internally illuminated LED light and is located on the northern

elevation on the upper floors.

Two projecting signs which are internally illuminated LED lights on each elevation above

the entrance canopy and at the corner of the building.

Wall mounted letters above the entrance canopy which are backlit with LED lights.

A LED media screen on the northern elevation in place of a large window.

Appendix 16

Figure 3 - Signs Proposed

Figure 4 - Location of Signs on Building

Eastern Elevation

Appendix 16

Northern Elevation

Design and Visual Amenity

As can be seen above, the signs are grey and pink in colour. This is typical corporate signage and is

functional as it identifies the building for its use and provides information to visitors and passers-by.

Therefore in principle this signage is considered acceptable.

In terms of amenity, the signs are located on a commercial building which is set amongst other

properties of a similar nature. HED have been consulted and they have considered that the proposal

has no greater demonstrable harm on the setting of the listed building. They have also stated that

while the proposed signage introduces new signage to the façade of the building overlooking the State

Care monument they have assessed this and consider that given the urban nature of the landscape

this will not provide any adverse impact upon the setting of Derry’s Walls, therefore, though this site

is in the Conservation Area, and given the building to which they are attached is a distance from any

listed buildings, it is considered that they will not have any adverse impacts on the amenity of the

surrounding area and will not adversely affect any views within, into or out of the area.

Appendix 16

Notably, a similar LED Media Screen had been approved in this area previously under Planning

Applications Reference: A/2011/0186/F- 14/15 Waterloo Place. This screen has been removed with

the recent re-development of the former Supervalu building to the O’Neill’s sports store.

Therefore, it is concluded that the proposal complies with Policy AD 1 of PPS 12, Policies BE 1 and TU

2 of the DAP, TSM 1 and TSM 7 of PPS 16 alongside Policies BH 1, BH 2, BH 11, BH 12 and BH 13 of PPS

6 and the SPPS with respect to design and visual amenity.

Public Safety

With regard to public safety the main consideration would be in relation to the potential impacts on

pedestrians and vehicular traffic.

As detailed previously, the application site is located within a pedestrian area and adjacent a public

road.

DFI Roads have raised no issues in relation to the advertisements proposed at this location.

Therefore, it can provide access to both those on foot and using vehicles.

Therefore, it is considered that the proposal complies with the Policy AD 1 of PPS 7, the DAP, PPS 3

and PPS 16.

Natural Heritage

Policies ENV 6, ENV 7, ENV 8, TU 1 and TU 2 of the DAP alongside Policy TSM 7 of PPS 16 and Policy

BH 12 of PPS 6 provide guidance on the protection of natural heritage features in respect of tourism

development and development within the Conservation Area. PPS 2 is also a consideration.

This is an application for signage and there are no trees or landscape features which will be impacted

by this proposal. There has been no areas of flood risk identified at this site. Therefore, it is unlikely

that this proposal will have an adverse effect in terms of natural heritage or biodiversity. Thus the

proposal complies with the DAP PPS 2, PPS 6, and PPS 16.

Appendix 16

12. Conclusion and Recommendation

To conclude, having assessed this proposal against the relevant policy above, it is considered that

it will permit the expansion of tourist facilities within the City of Derry which will therefore provide

an enhanced visitor experience. This proposal is considered to be within a suitable and accessible

location and given the nature of the proposal and works required, it will not adversely affect

amenity, natural heritage, or the setting of any Listed Buildings. This proposal is considered

acceptable within the Historic City Conservation Area. As such, approval is recommended subject

to the conditions set out below.

13. Conditions

1. The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of 5 years from the date

of this permission.

Reason: As required by Section 61 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.

2. The signs shall be erected in the positions shown on the approved drawings no’s 01, 02, 03, 04, 05,

which were received on 01st August 2019.

Reason: To ensure the development is carried out in accordance with the approved plans.