Flintshire planners blocks BT’s digital street hub in Shotton over listed building and footpath concerns
Flintshire County Council has refused planning permission for a BT digital advertising hub on Chester Road West in Shotton.
BT Group had applied to install a Street Hub unit on the pavement outside the Savers store in Shotton town centre.
The unit would have featured two internally illuminated digital screens, one on each side, and was intended to provide free public Wi-Fi, free phone calls, community information and emergency messages.
It would also have been capable of monitoring air quality and noise levels, counting pedestrian and traffic movements, and providing 5G connectivity.
The application was submitted on behalf of BT Group by Libre Solutions Planning Department and also included the potential removal of existing telephone kiosks in the surrounding area.
The Shotton proposal formed part of a national rollout run jointly by BT and media company Global.
Global has committed to installing up to 2,000 Street Hub units across the UK over the next decade.
When the application was submitted, Chris Forrester, Managing Director, Commercial Outdoor at Global, said: “Our next-generation, sustainable Street Hubs set a new standard for roadside digital outdoor advertising and mark a bold leap forward for the industry, connecting brands and communities up and down the country in more impactful ways.”
He added: “Our growing Street Hub network unlocks new opportunities for national and local advertisers, expanding reach throughout cities and towns across the UK.”
Thea Sztejka, Managing Director at BT Wholesale, said: “Digital connectivity is now a must-have for communities and high streets across the UK, and our new Street Hub units allow us to deliver that where it is needed most.”
Ms Sztejka added that the upgraded units “will allow us to provide even more locations with future-proofed technology for years to come.”
Planners refused the Shotton application on three grounds.
The council said the unit’s scale, design and visual prominence would be out of keeping with the character and appearance of the area and would negatively impact the streetscene.
It also found that the location and design of the hub would harm the special architectural and historic importance of a nearby listed building.
A third concern was the unit’s position within the public footpath, which planners said would compromise pedestrian safety and the safe use of the highway network.
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