Advertising hoarding which would block Sheffield's historic Wicker Arches is refused

Sheffield's "striking and historic" Wicker Arches won't be blocked by an advertising hoarding after a planning inspector backed the council.
Sheffield's "striking and historic" Wicker Arches won't be blocked by an advertising hoarding after a planning inspector backed the council.Sheffield's "striking and historic" Wicker Arches won't be blocked by an advertising hoarding after a planning inspector backed the council.
Sheffield's "striking and historic" Wicker Arches won't be blocked by an advertising hoarding after a planning inspector backed the council.

Planning officers had refused permission for an illuminated, 48-sheet digital advertising display at land at Savile Street and Spital Hill.

The ad company appealed but an inspector agreed with the council.

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Council officers said: "The proposed advertisement was a freestanding digital display mounted on support poles within a fenced area of land at the corner of Savile Street and Spital Hill where it would appear in the foreground of the Grade II* listed Wicker Arches.

"The inspector noted that, while a number of the arches have been infilled, they remain striking and dominant features of the townscape with considerable architectural and historic significance evoking Sheffield’s industrial heritage.

"The inspector considered that the display would stand immediately in front of the first viaduct arch and next to the main roadway arch in a prominent and conspicuous position; that the contemporary nature of the display, with changing digital images, would appear particularly strident in front of the 19th century viaduct architecture.

"It's height and freestanding form would add to its incongruous presence and harmful impact on the setting of the listed buildings, would adversely affect the setting of the listed buildings and the wider streetscape, and harm the amenity of the area."

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In a separate case, the inspector dismissed plans to instal a digitally imprinted, hi-tech mesh PVC banner to the first and second floor wall facing Rockingham Gate at Plug Box Office.

The inspector agreed with the council and said the banner would be highly visible, overly dominant and incongruous.

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