Sheet 04 · Consent, explained

The consent side of a shopfront job

Six guides to the parts of a shopfront project that cause the delays, the refusals and the enforcement letters. Written by installers who deal with them, and clear about where you need a planning professional instead.

Advertisement consent for shop signsShop signs are controlled separately from the shopfront. Some need no application if they stay within strict limits; illuminated signs in a conservation area, and most signs on listed buildings, need express consent first.Article 4 directions and your shopAn Article 4 direction removes particular permitted development rights in a defined area, so work that would normally need no application needs one. Check the council’s list before assuming anything is permitted.Listed building consent for shopfrontsIf the building is listed, almost any change to its shopfront — new signs, shutters, alarm boxes, replacement glass or joinery — needs listed building consent before work starts. Doing it without consent is a criminal offence.What to do after an enforcement noticeAn enforcement notice states what the council says is wrong, what you must do and by when. You can appeal, but only before the date the notice takes effect — so read the dates first.Applying for a heritage shopfront grantHeritage shopfront grants are local, time-limited and usually tied to a conservation area. They pay towards restoring traditional features, expect the design to follow the council’s guidance, and almost never pay for work started before approval.Why solid shutters get refusedSolid external roller shutters are the most common reason a shopfront security application fails. Councils object to the blank, dark street they create at night, and most accept laminated glass, internal grilles or open-lattice designs instead.

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