East Cambridgeshire District Council

East Cambridgeshire District Council is committed to maintaining and improving the District's shopping streets and centres. The Council recognises that shop fronts play a key role in creating attractive and vibrant areas in which people want to live and visit.

Well designed shops can have the potential to benefit areas in a variety of ways including adding visual interest to the street scene. However, when poorly designed or positioned, they can be harmful and result in visual clutter, obstructions and even hazards. The use of 'house' styles and corporate branding can lead to unsympathetic alterations that detract from the visual quality of streets and areas.

The principle function of any shop front and associated advertising is to advertise and display the goods and services provided within the building. The secondary, less obvious role, is to influence or improve the overall appearance and attractiveness of the streets.

Shop Front Design

During the 18th and 19th centuries, shop front design was based upon a clear set of principles that successfully achieved a balance between the shop front and the building as a whole. In more recent times, the quality and craftsmanship of shop fronts has been in steady decline, with shop fronts becoming increasingly standardised in appearance.

East Cambridgeshire District Council has produced a Supplementary Planning Document: Shop Front Design Guide in order to encourage retailers to think more carefully about their shop fronts and to promote high quality design standards across the District. This guide is available download below:

• Shop Front Design Guide SPD

Advertisements

Advertisements are a key part of shop front design and they can have a dramatic impact on the character of streets and shopping areas. They are also subject to separate regulations and depending on size, number, location and design the may require advertisement consent.

An easy to use guide is available download below to help determine if advertisement consent is required for signs you may be thinking of erecting within the District.

• Outdoor Advertisements and Signs: A Guide for Advertisers

N.B. Listed Building Consent is nearly always required when attaching any signage to a listed building.