Shopfronts, Signage and Advertisements
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Shopfronts are an essential element of the commercial activity of Southampton. They make an important contribution to the shopping streets in the City, Town, District and Local Centres and can influence the quality of the environment in Conservation Areas. Pressures to alter shopfronts arise from changing retailers and varying retail methods to attract custom, particularly as retailers adapt and develop to attract customers in post-Covid 19 times.
Shop frontages need to be designed to take into account the age and style of the buildings in which they are located, and where these are of architectural or historic merit they should be retained and sensitively adapted to meet today’s requirements.
Advertisements are controlled by specific regulations and guidance. The regulations specify which advertisements are permitted without the need for consent, which have deemed consent, which need express consent, and the further conditions that apply. Advertisements can only be controlled for reasons of amenity and public safety (like highway visibility).