The Primark store in Blackburn’s The Mall shopping centre is to get new grey and white signs facing Ainsworth Street and Church Street. The clothing chain is instal four new illuminated fascia boxes and two non-illuminated ones.
The firm changed the colour of the new signs from aqua blue to grey with white lettering after concerns were raised by the town hall conservation officer. Blackburn with Darwen Council has granted advertisement consent for the new signs for the store in The Mall’s Cobden Court.
A planning officer’s report recommending approval says: “”The premises within The Mall is Primark which features advertisements which front onto Church Street and the pedestrianised area which runs between the site and Blackburn bus station. The application site lies adjacent to the Cathedral Conservation Area and is situated in close proximity to listed buildings along Church Street.
“Advertisement consent is sought for the replacement of four illuminated fascia boxes and two non-illuminated fascia boxes. The key issues in relation to heritage is whether the proposal will harm the character and appearance of the adjacent Cathedral Conservation Area or the nearby listed buildings.
“The replacement fascia signs will have little discernible impact upon the setting of the listed buildings and conservation area. The significance of the site is considered to be low as the building is a standard 20th century shopping centre with little design or historic interest.
“A prominent feature of these units are the fascia signs which sit on the front elevations of the buildings. The conservation officer was consulted for comments and said: ‘I have reviewed the amended plans which incorporate changes to address some of my previous concerns.
“The main concern I had with the proposals related to the proposed colour of the signage, as the Supplementary Planning Document clearly identifies that ‘Bright gaudy fluorescent colours which are unsympathetic to the building should be avoided’, and therefore, the proposed colour of the signage I considered a backstep from the existing and would be a negative addition to the streetscape that will detract from the setting of the heritage assets. The amended details now demonstrate the back colour of the signage to be grey with white lettering and as such an improvement on the original proposal’.
“The amendment of changing the background colour from aqua to grey is considered to be more appropriate due to its siting close to Listed Buildings and adjacent to a Conservation Area. The design, lettering and colouring of the adverts are in keeping with similar corporate signage of Primark and the colouring has been revised to be more in keeping with the Conservation Area.”
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