Shopfront signs on Bedford’s B&M store, described as “bleak”, “visually uninteresting” and “garish” by a planning inspector, must now be removed, after the retailer lost its appeal against a Bedford Borough Council enforcement notice.
The council said the unauthorised vinyls and fascias on the Midland Road store failed to preserve or enhance the character of the Bedford Conservation Area. The retailer is now in discussions with the council about a replacement scheme that meets planning rules.
The case is one of several recent enforcement actions as the council steps up efforts to tackle neglected and non-compliant sites across the borough.
The enforcement notice was issued earlier this year after B&M installed new signage without planning permission. Following a review, the Planning Inspectorate ruled that the vinyls had a “bleak and visually uninteresting appearance”, while the fascias were “garish, prominent and obtrusive”.
The inspector agreed with the council that the signage failed to enhance the area’s appearance and confirmed the notice, requiring B&M to remove the signs.
Phoenix Pub
Enforcement notices are issued when development or signage breaches planning control. If an appeal is dismissed, the notice takes effect, and the council can pursue further action if it is not complied with.
In a separate case, the council has also issued an untidy land notice against the former Phoenix pub on St John’s Street. The notice requires the owner to repair the roof and tidy the building’s external elevations.
Untidy land notices are used when the state of a property is considered to harm the appearance of the local area.
The update was included in the council’s quarterly planning appeals and enforcement report, which showed 106 new complaints and 109 cases closed in the last quarter.
Members of the planning committee praised officers for their continued work in protecting the borough’s appearance and heritage.
Cllr Leigh Coombs (Liberal Democrat, Shortstown) told the committee, “We’d be lost without them.”
By John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter
and Paul Hutchinson, Bedord Independent
