American fried chicken chain Popeyes takes battle over signs with Cambridge City Council to planning inspector

American fried chicken chain Popeyes has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate after being told to remove signs outside its takeaway by Cambridge City Council.

The takeaway opened in Market Hill in February but shortly afterwards the company that operates it, PLK Chicken UK Ltd, was told to remove the exterior shop signs as they were different from what had been approved by the city council.

The company said the signs were “vital” and launched an appeal.

The council approved plans for a ‘Popeyes’ sign to be installed above the main exterior windows.

But the company installed it above the door and put up a ‘Famous Louisiana Chicken’ sign above the windows.

Papers published as part of the planning appeal process show the council contacted the company in March to say the ‘Famous Louisiana Chicken’ sign needed to be removed and replaced with the ‘Popeyes’ sign, as agreed.

Popeyes submitted a retrospective application seeking permission for the change, but this was refused after concerns were raised by the authority’s conservation officer.

The officer said: “The ‘Popeyes’ lettering cramps the fascia above the entrance door as it is overly large and the ‘Famous Louisiana Chicken’ is not the name of the company and therefore should not be on the front elevation.

“When seen together, they overcrowd the fascia and the historic relevance of the buildings are lost with this inappropriate signage.

“This is to the detriment of the character and special interest of the listed building and the conservation area.”

Taking the matter to the national Planning Inspectorate, the company said the existing signs are “vital to the operation of the shop”, adding: “The proposed signage has been designed carefully to acknowledge the listed status of the building and the surrounding historic environment.

“The fascia lettering and projecting sign is considered to be an appropriate use of the material and responds positively to the historic character and features of the building and streetscape while acknowledging the existing modern intervention to the shop front.

“The scale of the advertisements are minor in nature and are not considered to impede pedestrian movements or impact public safety.

“It is considered that the proposals for advertisements and signage are sympathetic to the character and setting of Cambridge and do not add to an accumulation of street and building clutter, in line with [council policy].

“Notwithstanding the above, the proposals have been designed in line with supporting guidance on signage.

“The proposal is considered to strike a balance between the needs of the occupier, the modern interventions in the building and its listed statue.”

A planning inspector will now make the final decision on whether the existing signs can stay.