The yellow’s off and the off-white is on
COSMETIC CHANGES SATISFY COUNCIL
Local Democracy Reporter
COSMETICS giant L’Occitane has finally repainted a “garish” bright yellow shop in Newcastle city centre after a year-long battle with council bosses.
The beauty chain drew the ire of civic centre chiefs last March after painting the front of its store in the historic Grainger Street an “unacceptable” and “harmful” shade of daffodil yellow.
The shop, formerly occupied by Vodafone, is a listed building dating back to the 1830s but was refitted without planning permission from Newcastle City Council.
But, after a planning row that was taken to a Government inspector, the shop frontage has now been repainted in a more muted offwhite colour, though its interior will still have the brand’s signature colour.
A new planning application from L’Occitane en Provence states that the redesigned shopfront has “an updated and contemporary look whilst still maintaining elements of traditional advertising and promotion”, and that the heritage of Grainger Street is “crucial”.
It added: “During the design process and consultation with our client, the location and context of the site were considered. Conserving the aesthetic and history of Grainger Street were considered as crucial in this change of tenancy. “Whilst the shopfront is not original to the building, no further changes to the existing shopfront are proposed, only the City council spokesperson potential changing of the existing paint colour.
“We are of the opinion that this application and accompanying documentation addresses the conservation wishes of the Newcastle City Council, providing a proposal that is keeping with the character of the area whilst enhancing the quality of the existing environment.”
A council spokesperson said: “Following a decision by the planning inspector last year we have been working with L’Occitane to agree a revised colour scheme for the shopfront.
“We suggested a number of colours to comply with the council’s Shopfront Design Guidelines. Both parties agreed on an off-white colour which is compliant with our guidelines. The shopfront has now been repainted.”
Dismissing an appeal from L’Occitane last September, planning inspector Philip Lewis had concluded that the yellow colour was a “garish and obtrusive alteration to the listed building”.
He added: “I accept that this is a commercial part of the city but its historic importance, reflected in its Conservation Area designation, requires a careful approach to shopfronts, particularly where listed buildings are also involved.”
We suggested a number of colours to comply with the council’s Shopfront Design Guidelines