BT win fight with council over 'modern phoneboxes' for these Preston streets
BT have won a fight with Preston Council over plans to install a range of ‘modern phoneboxes’ on city streets.
The hubs provide free 5G wi-fi and UK calls, a USB charging point, an emergency services contact button and would feature two 75 inch LCD display screens, showing both adverts and local public information messages.
The telecoms giant wanted to put one hub outside the Food Savour takeaway in Friargate, one on the footpath outside 223 New Hall Lane, and another outside the Club 3000 Bingo hall.
“Future proof the high street”
BT argued in its applications for all of the sites that while the units would be “a noticeable addition” standing at 3m tall, they would “not automatically result in an overwhelming adverse harm occurring”.
The firm added that the hubs - of which there are almost 1,000 nationwide - were “an opportunity to help future-proof the high street, making [it] smarter, safer and more sustainable”, by providing “a sleek, modern answer to the demands of a digitally connected, converged-media society".
It also pledged that the facilities - funded by the advertising shown on the display screens - would be remotely monitored around the clock, inspected weekly and cleaned at least once a fortnight.
What Preston City Council said
But Preston City Council planning officials refused permission for the installations, saying they were at odds with the “extensive public realm improvement works” carried out in recent years, which mean the areas are now largely pedestrianised.
They noted that existing street furniture in the proposed areas was usually less than a metre high, adding: “It is considered the size and siting of the proposed hub would have a significant unacceptable adverse impact upon the character of the street by increasing street clutter in an area where efforts have been made to reduce it, as well as reducing the width of the footway available to be used by pedestrian traffic.”
They also said that the advertisement would have an effect on the amenity of the area.
The decision
But the planning inspector overturned the decision, in favour of BT and has issued express consent for the hubs.
In relation to the site outside Club 3000 Bingo, he said the hub would “sit comfortably within its commercial setting and would not be discordant with it, even though there is little in the way of street furniture nearby”, adding: “there is also nothing before me to indicate that the digital display screens would be brighter than any of the other colourful illuminated advertisements in the vicinity. “
Speaking of the site outside 223 New Hall Lane, he said the hub “would not appear out of proportion when seen in the foreground of the commercial premises. In this manner, rather than contributing to clutter, the unit and its advertising display would be harmonious with the ordered appearance of the street scene and would sit comfortably within the commercial setting.”
On the proposal for outside 120 Friargate, he said that although it would be taller than a lot of street furniture, “the Street Hub would not appear excessive in its proportions, viewed alongside predominantly threestorey buildings and other vertical features, such as the lighting columns and street trees. It would appear a modern, purpose-designed unit which would have a simple form and slender proportions which would complement the design and materials of the existing street furniture. Consequently, it would not cause harm to the attractiveness or undermine the improvements made to the public realm. Furthermore, its simple design would be unlikely to lead to issues of anti-social behaviour, a concern cited by an interested party.”
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