- Decision
- allowed, 16 September 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: M Cryan
- Authority
- Islington (London)
- Appeal reference
- 6008701
- Application reference
- P2025/3607/FUL
- Procedure
- written representations
- Development
- Replacement of BT kiosk with Street Hub 3 unit (A, 6008701) and two 75-inch digital advertisement screens (B, 6008697)
- Site context
- conservation area, listed building setting, inside settlement
- Green Belt
- No
- Framework applied
- August 2026 NPPF
- Determinative policies
- HE9, TR4
- Development plan policies
- Islington Local Plan 2023 SDMP PLAN1, SP4, DH1, DH2, DH6, T4, ST3, London Plan 2021 D3, D4, HC1, T2
- Main issues
- conservation area and listed building setting; pedestrian safety
Summary
A BT Street Hub with digital adverts replacing a kiosk in the New River conservation area at Angel was allowed. The hub and screens would be read against the modern Angel Building, and the footway constraint was no worse than existing pinch points nearby. The Inspector did not consult on the Framework, as the relevant provisions were "not altered significantly" (DL ¶7).
What made the difference
The modern commercial backdrop justified setting aside the conservation area guidance against internally illuminated signs "in this instance" (DL ¶15). The footway already narrowed either side at the bus shelter and cabinets, and those were "the more significant 'limiting factor'" (DL ¶23).
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| HE9 | pass | New River CA preserved; slim dark hub a "modest improvement"; illuminated ads acceptable against modern Angel Building despite design guidelines (DL 13-15, 19) | |
| HE6 | not-engaged | setting of grade II Old Red Lion preserved (DL 18-19) | |
| TR4 | pass | public footway below TfL 4.2 m ideal without private forecourt but above 2 m; adjacent constraints are the limiting factor (DL 20-23) |
Key facts
- Existing kiosk tired; hub 3.0 m x 1.2 m x 0.4 m
- First digital advertising in that part of the CA; seen against modern five-storey Angel Building
- 5-year advert consent (10 years sought, refused)
Sources
This note is one of the decisions behind the NPPF 2026 Navigator, which shows how each Framework test has been applied across all the decisions in the database. Also available as Markdown.