Pavement Outside 53-55 The Broadway Joel Street Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1NZ

Pavement Outside 53-55 The Broadway Joel Street Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1NZ — London Borough of Hillingdon — by Martin H Seddon BSc MPhil DipTP MRTPI an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State Decision date: 19 October 2023

Pavement Outside 53-55 The Broadway Joel Street Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1NZ — London Borough of Hillingdon — Pavement outside 53-55 The Broadway, Joel Street, Northwood HA6 1NZ • The appeal is made under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 against a refusal to grant planning permission. • The appeal is made by Mr Thomas Johnston, JCDecaux UK Ltd against the decision of the Council of the London Borough of Hillingdon. • The application Ref: 77312/APP/2022/1721 dated 25 May 2022, was refused by notice dated 15 September 2022. • The development proposed is the installation of a multi-functional Communication Hub including advertisement display.

Pavement Outside 53-55 The Broadway Joel Street Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1NZ — London Borough of Hillingdon — Pavement outside 53-55 The Broadway, Joel Street, Northwood HA6 1NZ • The appeal is made under Regulation 17 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 against a refusal to grant express consent. • The appeal is made by Mr Thomas Johnston, JCDecaux UK Ltd against the decision of the Council of the London Borough of Hillingdon. • The application Ref: 77312/ADV/2022/53 dated 25 May 2022, was refused by notice dated 15 September 2022. • The advertisement proposed is the installation of a multi-functional Communication Hub including advertisement display.

Pavement Outside 53-55 The Broadway Joel Street Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1NZ — London Borough of Hillingdon — to amenity include the general characteristics of the locality, including the presence https://www.gov.uk/planning-inspectorate

Pavement Outside 53-55 The Broadway Joel Street Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1NZ — London Borough of Hillingdon — to amenity include the general characteristics of the locality, including the presence https://www.gov.uk/planning-inspectorate

Pavement Outside 53-55 The Broadway Joel Street Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1NZ — London Borough of Hillingdon — to amenity include the general characteristics of the locality, including the presence Appeal Decisions APP/R5510/W/22/3310434 & APP/R5510/Z/3310439 of any feature of historic, architectural, cultural, or similar interest. Whilst not decisive, I have taken relevant policies into account as a material consideration. Main Issues 5. The main issue with respect to appeal A is the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area. The main issue with respect to appeal B is the effect on the amenity of the area, as there is no dispute between the main parties regarding the effect on public safety. Reasons Appeal A Effect on character and appearance 7. The proposed communications hub would be located near a Co-operative store and betting shop in a relatively wide part of the footway, just before it narrows alongside The Broadway to accommodate a parking layby. The Broadway has been the subject of a town centre improvement scheme, which included the placement of street furniture. The Broadway is characterised by relatively clear but narrowed footways with a central highway reservation lined with a row of trees. This gives the road an attractive verdant character. The entrance to Northwood Hills underground station is a short distance to the south of the appeal site.

Pavement Outside 53-55 The Broadway Joel Street Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1NZ — London Borough of Hillingdon — to amenity include the general characteristics of the locality, including the presence Buildings in the vicinity are generally three-storey and include retail and commercial premises at ground floor level with residential use above. 8. The hub unit would measure around 2.630 m in height by 1.338 m in width and 0.317 m in depth. There would be a projecting canopy over the equipment at one side of the unit, and a display screen to the rear, measuring around 1.895 m by 1.065 m. The illuminated screen would operate with a 10 second delay between each static display image. 9. The proposed hub would be sited near a pedestrian crossing which is marked by belisha beacons. Close by, within the footway, is a community notice board. The proposed hub would be sited between these features and a pair of seats, which incorporate a central litter bin. Tall, slender lamp standards line the footway alongside The Broadway to the north. To the south, just before the underground station there are cycle stands and a street map. 10. The proposed hub would be sited where it would appear prominent and would add unduly to the existing items of street furniture which are relatively concentrated at this particular location.

Pavement Outside 53-55 The Broadway Joel Street Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1NZ — London Borough of Hillingdon — to amenity include the general characteristics of the locality, including the presence Despite the scale of surrounding buildings, the hub would appear bulky and visually intrusive in the street scene, reducing views of Broadway for pedestrians looking down the footway from the south and also views when walking towards the subway station from the north. The advertisement panel, with its changing illuminated images, would add to the prominence of the hub, especially when seen in the hours of darkness. 11. The proposed hub would provide a range of services, including Wi-Fi, phone charging, messaging facilities, free calls to landlines and charities, wayfinding, and a https://www.gov.uk/planning-inspectorate 2

Pavement Outside 53-55 The Broadway Joel Street Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1NZ — London Borough of Hillingdon — to amenity include the general characteristics of the locality, including the presence Despite the scale of surrounding buildings, the hub would appear bulky and visually intrusive in the street scene, reducing views of Broadway for pedestrians looking down the footway from the south and also views when walking towards the subway station from the north. The advertisement panel, with its changing illuminated images, would add to the prominence of the hub, especially when seen in the hours of darkness. 11. The proposed hub would provide a range of services, including Wi-Fi, phone charging, messaging facilities, free calls to landlines and charities, wayfinding, and a https://www.gov.uk/planning-inspectorate 2

Pavement Outside 53-55 The Broadway Joel Street Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1NZ — London Borough of Hillingdon — to amenity include the general characteristics of the locality, including the presence Appeal Decisions APP/R5510/W/22/3310434 & APP/R5510/Z/3310439 defibrillator. It would be powered by renewable energy, with a solar panel to provide additional energy for the canopy lighting. The appellant advises that it would generate minimal waste during its lifetime. It would include design features to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour, plus an emergency call button. It could support businesses, provide information on local events, and assist the vitality of the area, contributing towards the development of a ‘smart’ city. However, even acknowledging the support in the Framework for high quality communications, these benefits would be modest and would not outweigh the harm from the proposal to the character and appearance of the area. 12. Regarding Appeal A, the proposed hub would significantly harm the character and appearance of the area.

Pavement Outside 53-55 The Broadway Joel Street Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1NZ — London Borough of Hillingdon — to amenity include the general characteristics of the locality, including the presence It would therefore fail to comply with policies D3 and D8 of the London Plan, policy BE1 of the Hillingdon Local Plan: Part One – Strategic Policies, policies DMHB 11, 12, 13A and 21 of the Hillingdon Local Plan Part Two – Development Management Policies and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework insofar as they seek to ensure good design that is related to local context. Appeal B Effect on amenity 13. Conditions have been suggested by the appellant relating to the rate and form of image change and illumination levels for the display panel, but the large, illuminated display panel would be unduly prominent in the street scene. Therefore, regarding Appeal B, for the reasons given above, and despite the suggested conditions, the proposed advertisement display would harm the amenity of the area. Conclusion 14. For the reasons given above, both Appeal A and Appeal B are dismissed.

Pavement Outside 53-55 The Broadway Joel Street Northwood, Hillingdon, HA6 1NZ — London Borough of Hillingdon — Martin H Seddon INSPECTOR https://www.gov.uk/planning-inspectorate 3