Issue - meetings

 Report of Director of Planning and Regeneration.

Cabinet noted the representations made to the consultation on the draft Shopfront Design Guide SPD and agreed the associated Officer responses in Appendix 1 of the report.

Cabinet approved the Shopfront Design Guide attached in Appendix 2 of the report as a Supplementary Planning Document to replace the Shopfront Design Guide April 1998.

Cabinet agreed that the Director of Planning and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Environment be delegated the power to amend the presentation of the document (including the pictures used) prior to its publication.

Councillor Beardsworth commented that she was delighted with the report and congratulated the officers who had been involved. She reported that Northampton was home to many significant buildings and welcomed the sympathetic approach to Shopfront designs.

Councillor Wire welcomed the report and offered his appreciation to the officers involved. He commented that it was often necessary to look above the shopfronts to get an appreciation of some of the buildings and reported that it would be a positive step to move away from less desirable shop fronts to enhance the look of the town centre.

Councillor Yates, as the relevant Portfolio Holder, outlined the report and commented that there was a drive to encourage distinctiveness and individuality to the town’s shops of which the Shopfront Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document supported. He further commented that the development of the town would be gradual and improvements made over a number of years, rather than with immediate effect.

The Director of Planning and Regeneration explained that the Council adopted the original Design Guide in 1998 and that the more recent Guide encompassed much greater emphasis from Government. It was reported that a wide range of people had been involved and consulted and that the overall feedback had been very encouraging and the potential of the document could be regarded as a positive marketing tool.

The Chairman thanked the Director of Planning and Regeneration for the report and the officers involved. He emphasised that the document was not specific to Northampton Town Centre, but would be applicable to the entire town.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the representations made to the consultation on the draft Shopfront Design Guide SPD and agreed the associated Officer responses in Appendix 1 of the report be noted.

2.      That the Shopfront Design Guide attached in Appendix 2 of the report as a Supplementary Planning Document to replace the Shopfront Design Guide April 1998 be approved.

3.      That the Director of Planning and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Environment be delegated the power to amend the presentation of the document (including the pictures used) prior to its publication.