Inspector rejects business bid for city centre-style electronic billboard in Bedford

Government planning inspector Andrew Owen decided that the plan from real estate company Samsons above 1-13 Greyfriars, in Bedford, would harm the amenity of the area.

A visit to Bedford town centre was made on May 19 by the Planning Inspectorate’s Emma Worby.

She said: “The host building has no distinct architectural merit, however the proposal would introduce an incongruous and overly large feature to the building which is currently uniform and modest in appearance.

“I consider that the proposed billboard would be an incongruous and dominant addition to the streetscene and I conclude that this advertisement would unacceptably harm the visual amenity of the area.”

Samsons had tried unsuccessfully on two occasion to get advertising consent from the council but were rejected on both occasions.

Among its reasons for refusing were that the billboard would cover up a window of a first floor home above the row of shops.

Samsons said it was an office, not a home, but the planning inspector concluded that the difference of opinion was not important for the decision.

The sign would have been above Pepe’s Peri Peri and Cash-a-Cheque on the corner of Midland Road and Greyfriars.

It would have been the first advertisement above the canopy level in an area where they are fascia designs on shopfronts.

“Although the billboard would have a conventional appearance,” said the report to Mr Owen. “It would be in a prominent position on the building and would be an overly dominant addition to the surrounding area.”

Mr Owen made his decision on May 29.