Large And 'Garish' Advertising Hoarding Rejected

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Decision is upheld on appeal following a public inquiry

The council’s refusal to grant planning permission for a giant illuminated advertising hoarding in the heart of Clapham Junction town centre has been endorsed on appeal.

An independent planning inspector has backed the council’s decision after the advertising company appealed to try and get the ruling overturned.

In March councillors on the planning applications committee rejected the company’s plans to erect the billboard - measuring 16 metres by eight metres - on the front of the Wessex Halls banqueting suite opposite the entrance to Clapham Junction Station.

The applicants, KDT Management, subsequently appealed against that refusal but this has now been turned down following a public inquiry chaired by an official from the Government’s Planning Inspectorate.

In his written adjudication the inspector agreed with the council’s submissions, concluding: “The display would overwhelm and dominate the surrounding areas, an impact further accentuated by illumination during the hours of darkness.

“The proposed advertisement would result in significant harm to the character and appearance of the CJCA (Clapham Junction Conservation Area) and the setting of the nearby listed buildings.”

Planning Committee chairman Cllr Sarah McDermott said: “I am pleased that the inspector has endorsed our decision and rejected this appeal.

“This very large and garish hoarding would have been extremely unsightly and intrusive, especially at night, and would not have fitted in at all with its surroundings. It would have been a real blot on the landscape which is why we refused to give it planning permission in the first place.”