Glasgow lap dancing club loses appeal against council decision to reject sign

A Glasgow lap dancing club could need to remove its sign after losing an appeal against a council decision to reject permission.

Seventh Heaven on Hope Street asked the Scottish Government to reconsider a ruling by Glasgow City Council, which claimed a new sign and awning would be “detrimental” to a listed building.

But a reporter, appointed by the government, has dismissed the appeal, upholding the initial decision. The dispute centres on a sign with LED backlights on aluminium fascia and a retractable awning.

The council refused listed building consent as it said the awning would be an “incongruous addition” and add “visual clutter to the existing historic frontage”.

It also ruled the size and nature of the sign was “detrimental to… the appearance and special character of the building”.

A council report from December stated an initial proposal had been changed after talks between planners and the applicant, with an application then approved.

However, it added the “plans in the granted decision notice had not been commenced” and instead the “original proposal had been implemented”. “This was subsequently reported to planning enforcement,” the report continued.

Council planners told the reporter the sign within the application “does not reflect what is currently on site so it is unclear if this application is to replace the retrospective work”.

In the appeal, Andy Cox of Seventh Heaven said the club feels the sign and awning are “both elegant and subtle against the grandeur of the Category A listed façade” and the “high quality” materials are “in keeping with neighbouring properties”.

However, the reporter, Alison Kirkwood, appointed by the Scottish Government ruled the changes would have a “detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the listed building and conservation area”.

She said she was “required to assess the proposal shown on the submitted drawings, which is not necessarily the same as that which has been installed”.

Responding to the appeal, council planners had said policies were clear that “without historic justification then the property will be unable to house an awning” and the “design of the building doesn’t lend itself well to the installed awning”.

They also said the aluminium panel is “deemed inappropriate as it detracts from the intricate stonework of the A-listed building”.

“There was a policy-compliant proposal that was approved by Glasgow City Council, which was not commenced,” officials added. “As the application stands, it would be an incongruous addition.”