A new public consultation has been launched into a document that will help improve the quality of shopfronts within Copeland’s towns and villages.
Copeland Borough Council is in the process of developing a Shopfront Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to help ensure attractive and effective shopfronts are provided and maintained.
The six-week consultation launched yesterday gives residents, businesses and interested parties the opportunity to comment on a draft of the SPD before a final version is produced.
The final document will be used to guide future decision-making.
The draft SPD identifies key elements of shopfronts, and provides a history of how they have evolved over time, to give owners and businesses an understanding of their buildings and their frontages.
It then highlights good practice and things that should be embraced – or avoided – by anyone maintaining or providing a new shopfront in order to maximise the effectiveness of the business and the building.
Councillor Andy Pratt, portfolio holder for environment, place and inclusive communities, said: “As we continue to recover from COVID-19, this consultation is a great opportunity for us all to be involved with how our town centres should look, in order to maximise on not just commercial footfall for our high street shops, but to encourage tourist visitor footfall to our town centres, to see the historic architecture that has made our towns special over the years.”
The draft SPD can be viewed, and feedback completed, at https://www.copeland.gov.uk/content/shop-front-design-guide-spd.
For those without internet access, the document can be viewed at the Market Hall in Whitehaven, by appointment only. Hard copies of the document and response forms can also be made available on request.
For more information, contact Copeland council’s strategic planning team by calling 01946 598300 or by emailing localplanconsultation@copeland.gov.uk. The consultation runs until June 21.
