The Liverpool branch of Hooters has been ordered to take down controversial signs outside the business or face prosecution.
It was confirmed earlier this week a bid by the American chain to appeal a decision by Liverpool Council last year denying them planning permission for two large illuminated signs outside the Water Street venue had been dismissed. Now, the local authority has moved to order they be taken down inside 14 days.
If that deadline is not met, Liverpool Council will start prosecution proceedings against the Liverpool business.
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An application was made by Beauvoir Developments, the company operating the Hooters Liverpool franchise, to put up the two orange and black signs outside New Zealand House in March 2022. This was rejected by Liverpool Council’s planning committee in October, but this didn’t stop Hooters, who put up the signs anyway.
An appeal was received by the Planning Inspectorate in February and a site visit undertaken by inspector Sarah Colebourne earlier this month. In her decision, issued publicly on Monday, Ms Colebourne said the appeal lodged by Hooters had been dismissed, citing there was “no public benefit that could outweigh the harm identified” by the signage.
Ms Colebourne said the main issue in the appeal was the effect of the proposed advertisements on amenity. She added how given the site was located within the Castle Street conservation area, significance was drawn from it being “at the heart of Liverpool's traditional commercial centre in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.”
Speaking to the ECHO previously, Hooters managing director Rachael Moss noted businesses nearby with signage outside as a precedent for her business. This was rejected by Ms Colebourne who said they did not provide justification for the proposal.
The inspector said: “In this street, advertisements are limited in number and generally restrained in their size, scale, design and illumination and any exceptions are generally limited to more modern buildings. The street is therefore somewhat subtle and restrained in its character and this contributes positively to the significance of the conservation area.”
Ms Colebourne, who visited the site as part of the appeal, said in her judgement she felt the illuminated signs would “detract significantly from the imposing entrance to the building which should remain its dominant feature. They would also distract from and compete with the listed buildings adjacent and opposite.”
The planning inspector’s report acknowledged while the harm caused by the signs would “be less than substantial” she had not been told of “any public benefits in this case that would outweigh the harm identified.” It added: “By reason of its siting, size, scale and design, it would fail to preserve or enhance the significance, character and appearance of the conservation area and the setting of the listed buildings referred to earlier.
“For the reasons given above and having regard to all other matters raised, I conclude that the proposal would cause significant harm in terms of amenity and the appeal should be dismissed.”
Hooters managing director Ms Moss declined to comment.
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