Why are shopfronts important?

Many of the market towns of our district have distinctive high streets - with a mixture of Medieval, Georgian and Victorian shopfronts, which are clustered together and create attractive, historic central spaces for us all to enjoy.

The businesses occupying these spaces can potentially enhance or detract from the character and appearance of the area, via their use of signage and advertisement boards.

This advice has been created to provide more information on how to create signage that reflects the nature of the building, and gives opportunities for local businesses to make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of these areas.

How can I tell whether a shopfront is historic?

Within our districts, we are lucky enough to have some rare survivals of late medieval shopfronts - in areas such as Lavenham. However, the shopfront as we know it today emerged in the mid-18th Century, and the typical Georgian shopfront has a projected bow window with small panes of glass.

The most common type of shopfront found in our high streets are Victorian. These are typified by their large plate glass shopfronts, and splayed lobbies and angled fascias. By the 20th Century the influence of art deco and more minimalist design approaches are mixed with the use of curved glass and decorative tiles.

Modern shopfronts have moved away from having large display windows, but those with a historic shopfront remain as as important feature of our high streets.

Do I need Listed Building Consent or planning permission to alter the external appearance of a shop?

Most alterations to shopfronts will need approval. In some cases, you might need more than one type of consent. If you are unsure which permissions you need, you should contact our Planning team before making any changes.

Planning permission

Changes that will materially affect the external appearance of a shopfront, such as the replacement of the shopfront, installation of a canopy/blind/awning or the addition of vinyl stickers, will require planning permission. Planning permission would also be required for changes to the materials used, such as changing from a hand painted timber sign to a plastic printed sign.

Listed Building Consent

Any alteration to a listed building, both internally and externally, will require listed building consent. You should check with the heritage team for more information on the acceptability of your proposals.

Advertisement Consent

If you are altering the signage of your shopfront, such as installing a new fascia or changing the colour of a sign, you are likely to also need advertising consent. In conservation areas and on listed buildings, all illuminated signs require consent, and they are unlikely to be considered appropriate for historic buildings.  

How do I maintain my historic shopfront?

Historic shopfronts benefit from a programme of ongoing repairs and maintenance. This may include regular window cleaning, and cyclical painting of any exterior woodwork. If the colour palette and materials are staying the same (i.e like-for-like), then it's unlikely that you need formal consent.

Things to consider with signage design

Signage has a big impact on the character of the building it is designed for, and their design should attempt to blend with the historic nature of the building itself, as well as respond to other architectural features that the building may possess. Many of our historic shopfronts are based in classical proportions, which should be adhered to when considering adding shopfront signage. A sign that is too large for the space it should be occupying will detract from the shop and possibly the street scene as a whole.

Many historic shopfronts will have a dedicated space above the windows for a sign to be attached, usually indicated by a central blank space and the cornicing detail rising from the ground floor, providing attractive stops at the boundaries of the area. This is called a fascia.

Hand painted signage is preferred in most circumstances. For shops with a large shopfront window and a lack of fascia, signage that is applied to the glass can also provide a pleasing addition to the appearance of the shop.

When choosing colours for the signs on your shop, you should consider the palette of the surrounding buildings, as well as any historic features of your shopfront- for example, if you have colourful glazed tiles, complementary tones and colours to the surrounding paintwork can allow this historic feature to stand out more, and create a more striking shopfront. Rich, traditional colours or pastel tones are generally appropriate, avoiding the use of very bright colours.

Things to avoid

  • Bright, gaudy colours
  • Large vinyl signs that are not correctly proportioned for the fascia
  • Vinyl stickers that block out the window should be avoided- shops should seek to utilise their large window for display purposes
  • Additional and unnecessary signage or information boards that adds to a cluttered or unorganised appearance

Have another question? Contact us

If you need further advice, please contact our Heritage team.

Email heritage@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk

Phone 0300 123 4000 (Option 5, then Option 3)

Write to us:

Heritage Team

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils

8 Russell Road

Ipswich

IP1 2BX

Pre-application advice

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