URL: https://committeeadmin.lancaster.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1584

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose:

Content: Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Tyldesley)   Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer Planning & Climate Change which sought authorisation for the Chief Officer (Planning & Climate Change) to proceed with the statutory process and submit a proposal to the Secretary of State requesting that a Direction under Regulation 7 be renewed.  The Direction had been in place for 5 years and had been successful in managing ‘To Let’ boards.   The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:     Option 1: Submit a request to the Secretary of State to renew the designation of a Direction under Regulation 7 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 for the wards of Bulk, Castle, John O’Gaunt, Marsh, Scotforth East and Scotforth West. Option 2: Submit a request to the Sectary of State to renew the designation of a Direction under Regulation 7 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 for the wards described in Option 1 and additional wards in the District. Option 3: Do not progress a Regulation 7 Direction under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007. Advantages The renewal of the Direction under Article 7 will ensure that the current regime of managing ‘to let’ advertisements remain in place in the wards described and no new proliferation of signage occurs over the next 5 years. It will continue to manage this matter in the wards which have been historically most affected by these signage issues.   Starting the process now provides sufficient time for the renewal to take place, informal consultation to be undertaken and a decision from the Secretary of State to be received. The addition of further wards would provide the opportunity to expand the geographic scope of the Article 7 Direction to include other areas of the district where is it believed that these issues with signage are occurring.     None known Disadvantages None known Expanding the geographic scope of the Article 7 direction would not constitute a renewal of the process. It would require sufficient robust evidence that a demonstrable problem exists in additional areas of the district to justify such action.   This would require significant additional evidence to be gathered to justify expanding the scope of the Direction.   It is not clear there is sufficient evidence to justify an expansion in the scope of the Direction. Allowing the Direction to lapse in September 2026 could allow for a re[1]establishment of ‘to let’ signs in the Wards identified and a return to the issues which were identified prior to the Direction coming into force. Risks None known Should this option be pursued further work would be required to secure the necessary evidence to justify an expansion of the scope of the Direction.   Regardless of whether sufficient evidence could be secured to justify the need for an expansion, this would take time to collect and analyse which would risk a delay in securing a decision from the Secretary of State and the current Direction lapsing. In the absence of any management of ‘to let’ signs under the Article 7 Direction the issues around visual amenity and impacts on the street scene in the wards identified may increase.     The preferred option is Option 1. The renewal of the current Article 7 Direction provides the most effective approach to continuing management of this issue in the most affected wards. The City Council have the evidence to demonstrate the historical problems around ‘to let’ signage in these areas and the success which the Direction has had on improving this matter. This means that a renewal of the Direction can be progressed as quickly as possible.   It is recommended that authorisation is given for the Chief Officer (Planning & Climate Change) to proceed with the statutory process and submit a proposal to the Secretary of State requesting that a Direction under Regulation 7 is to be renewed.   Councillor Tyldesley proposed, seconded by Councillor Hamilton-Cox:-   “That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”   Councillors then voted:-   Resolved unanimously:   (1)        That Cabinet authorise the renewal of the Regulation 7 Direction under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007, to prohibit the display of To Let boards on residential properties in the wards of Bulk, Castle, John O’Gaunt, Marsh, Scotforth East and Scotforth West, without express consent and to comply with all necessary requirements.   (2)        That delegated authority is provided to the Chief Officer for Planning & Climate Change to submit the proposed renewal to the Secretary of State.   Officer responsible for effecting the decision:   Chief Officer Planning & Climate Change   Reasons for making the decision:   The decision is consistent with the Council Plan.   The Council Plan includes ambitions to make our neighbourhoods clean, well maintained and safe. The Lancaster District Local Plan includes policies which seek to improve the amenity of residents in Lancaster and to protect the character and appearance. Policies in the Strategic Policies and Land Allocations Development Plan Document aim to ensure that development, including uses of buildings, maintain the district’s heritage (SP7). Policy DM21 seeks to ensure that signage is well designed and appropriately sited and does not contribute to an unsightly proliferation or clutter of signage. Policies DM37 to 41 seek to ensure that the district heritage is protected or enhanced. The proposal seeks to address the detrimental impacts of concentration of letting boards associated to HMOs in accordance with the ambitions of the Council Plan and the Local Plan.

Date of Decision: September 16, 2025