Queensbury Co-op store wins appeal to keep shutters in crime prevention

A Convenience store that has been targeted by criminals several times will be able to keep its security shutters, after a government inspector overturned Bradford Council’s calls for them to be removed.

Last year planning officers at Bradford Council refused a planning application by the Co-operative group for new security shutters at its Queensbury store.

The council said the shutters had a “harmful effect” on the Queensbury Conservation Area and “present an intimidating appearance.”

The company lodged an appeal against that decision, and now that appeal has been upheld.

Planning Inspector Susan Ashworth said while she shared the Council’s concerns that roller shutters can make an area look blank and uninviting when they are closed – she did not feel that the Co-op’s shutters harmed the village Conservation Area.

The replacement shutters were installed during a recent refurbishment of the store – which also included bright green signage replaced with grey and blue signs.

A retrospective planning application followed, but the scheme fell foul of Bradford Council’s roller shutters policy. It says external metal shutters should not be used on buildings, as they had a harmful impact on the surrounding area.

This application was compounded by the fact that the store lies within the Queensbury Conservation Area – an area in which any major changes to buildings are normally refused.

The Queensbury Co-op has been the scene of a number of criminal attacks in recent years, including raids where cigarettes, cash and alcohol being stolen, as well as axe-wielding raiders hitting the store.

When the plans were refused, a Bradford Council planning officer said: “I have significant concerns about the retention of the shutters. When pulled down, the shutters create a deadening effect on the streetscape and have a harmful visual impact on the wider conservation area.”

In their appeal, the Co-op group said: “It is considered that the overall investment to the façade of the building presents an improvement, providing a shop front which is more consistent with the character of the street scene and contributing to an attractive streetscape. It is considered that as the shutters are effectively a ‘like for like’ (albeit painted dark grey) do not detract from the character of the area.”

In her decision report Ashworth said: “I note and share the Council’s concern regarding the appearance of blank retail frontages when the shutters are closed.

“However, in this particular case, the glazed area, and consequently the shutters, do not dominate the whole building and in comparison to the size of the building are limited in their extent.

“Additionally, the external boxes do not appear bulky in the context of the building as a whole. Moreover, the roller shutters replace previously installed solid security shutters and as such do not cause any greater harm to the appearance of the building, or that of the surrounding area, than the previously installed shutters.

“Taking into account the above matters, the shutters do not appear out of character or detract from the appearance of the host property and moreover have neutral impact on the Conservation Area.”