Southampton City Council
Shopfronts and shutters in Southampton
Southampton’s September 2025 advice note says open lattice shutters are the only acceptable security shutter in a conservation area.
- Planning authority
- Southampton City Council
- Planning system
- England
- Main document
- September 2025
- Status
- Council advice note
- Main retail streets
- Above Bar Street, WestQuay, Oxford Street
- Our repairs
- Installation work only
Southampton published its Shopfronts in Conservation Areas advice note in September 2025. It is short, aimed at owners and tenants, and states its security rule in a single sentence.
It also gives the reason the council cares: poor shopfronts and solid shutters can erode a conservation area’s character badly enough that, in the worst case, the area could lose its designation.
Shutters and security
Open-style lattice shutters are the only acceptable security shutter in a conservation area.
Shopfronts in Conservation Areas — Advice NoteThey should be mounted inside, behind the shopfront — or outside only if the box is built into the fascia design and does not sit proud of the shopfront.
Shopfronts in Conservation Areas — Advice NoteExternally fitted solid or perforated shutters are not acceptable.
Shopfronts in Conservation Areas — Advice Note
Signs and lighting
Only a single hanging sign associated with the fascia would be supported.
Shopfronts in Conservation Areas — Advice Note
Sources
- Shopfronts in Conservation Areas — Advice NoteSeptember 2025 · Council advice note · read on 9 October 2026
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