Forest Heath District Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council are consulting on the guide which provides clear planning advice and guidance to those responsible for designing or changing shop fronts.
The West Suffolk Shop Front and Advertisement Design Guide aims to provide an understanding of the shop front and advertisement designs that West Suffolk’s local planning authorities will support when considering a planning application or application for advertisement consent.
Councillor David Bowman, Forest Heath District Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Tourism, said: “A shop front is the first impression that a potential customer will have of a business and is also an integral part of the overall look of a shopping street. An attractive street will encourage shoppers and visitors to stay, spend – and come back to the town centre again. This guide provides very clear advice to help retailers, landlords and agents through the planning process which will enhance our shopping areas and help to boost the economy of West Suffolk.”
Councillor Alaric Pugh, St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said: “Good shop front design is not only good for an individual business, it also adds to the character and vitality of the whole retail area. We have some unique areas in our towns and villages, with a blend of old and modern buildings, which calls for carefully-considered, appropriate design. I hope that business owners and agents will find this guide really helpful in steering them through the technicalities and urge them to put forward any comments they have during the consultation period.”
The consultation runs until 5pm on Friday 9 January.
You can comment on the guide online at: http://westsuffolk.jdi-consult.net/localplan/
