South Holland District Council recommended to prepare design guide
The creation of a guide to help improve the appearance of two town centres is a step closer to fruition.
South Holland District Council has been recommended to prepare and provide a Shopfront Design Guide by a task force which was formed over a year ago to look at this issue. A shopfront design guide exists in neighbouring Stamford.
Spalding and District Civic Society has been calling on the council to take another look at its shopfront guide - which is 20 years out of date - for some time as it feels footfall to the town centre could be increased if closer attention were paid to the appearance of the buildings.
Traders in Holbeach have also previously called on the council to enforce some sort of standards to help protect the town’s conservation area from vinyl coverings and ill-fitting signs.
The task group’s final report and recommendations were due to be discussed by the Policy Development Panel before going onto cabinet.
Civic society chairman John Bland has welcomed the recommendation.
He said: “It is good to see that the society is being heard, as we have been calling for a guide to be implemented for a long while now. Once the task group was set up, I don't think it has taken too long for them to consider the issue and produce the report. The members will have had to get their heads around planning legislation that covers this area, and it was absolutely right for them to learn from the experiences of other authorities.”
Mr Bland said that it should not cost ‘a prohibitive amount to produce a guide’ and that work should begin now.
He added: “This could be done in partnership with Boston Borough Council as I am aware that the Boston Preservation Trust are also seeking an up to date design business front design guide for Boston.
“I am also sure that it would also be helpful if guides for Long Sutton and Holbeach could be produced. The basics of a good business frontage design applies in equal measure to Spalding, Boston, Long Sutton and Holbeach so it would make sense for best practice to be shared to all four towns.
“However, it is key that there is open and meaningful engagement with ourselves and the business community as equal partners on any proposed guide.
“It needs to cover more than just vinyl. There needs to be clear published guidance on what is acceptable when it comes to the design of business frontages as a whole which should include relevant sections of existing national planning policy and visual examples of what is good and what is bad. There are examples of both in the town.
“This will then give businesses the clear guidance on planning regulations that I am aware they have called for. It will also help reduce the need for the council's planning enforcement team to intervene when on occasion planning regulations are breached by businesses simply through a lack of local guidance.
“That will result in financial savings for both the council and the business community and speed up the planning process. It will also, over time improve the appearance of the town.
“A comprehensive business front design guide may also help to unlock funding from external sources to enable the council to provide specific support to help businesses and property owners within the conservation area improve the appearance for their frontages from organisations such as Historic England.”
Other recommendations made by the task group include encouraging businesses to apply for grants as well but is also advising the council departments to work with other organisations on potential enforcement options.
It also states: “For South Holland District Council to liaise with the Business Improvement Manager, to put arrangements in place for monthly updates to include information of new opening and closure of businesses and general street scene updates.
“Training and workshops could also be offered to assist business owners on good practice, as well as engaging with landlords to work alongside shop tenants.”
