Southwark Council planners have rejected an application by Vodafone to put up four neon-light company logos outside its London digital headquarters in Borough, slamming the plans as “obtrusive”.
The telecoms giant applied for permission for the logos in March this year. If given permission, the structure would stand at up to 2.7 metres tall, 2 metres wide and 3.6 metres deep.
Planning officers rejected the proposal at the end of April, citing light pollution for people living in neighbouring flats.
Planners added: “The proposed structure would, by virtue of [its] significant scale, bright internal illumination and neon acrylic materiality, appear obtrusive and harmfully detract from the surrounding townscape and streetscene.”
Vodafone said in its application: “The signage provides a focal point in the new landscaping scheme. At ground level, and surrounded by planting, it will have minimal impact on neighbouring properties, whilst reflecting Vodafone’s corporate identity.
“It is sized to be of an appropriate scale to the four storey elevation of the building, and to allow visitors to wander around and through it.”