Civic group slams 'garish' shop signage

The Cash Generator signage has been described as "garish"

A civic group has raised concerns over “garish” signage being installed on a Grade II listed city centre building.

A new branch of pawnbroker firm Cash Generator is opening at Bradford's Pearl Assurance House on the corner of Kirkgate and Bank Street.

The past week has seen bright yellow signage installed on the building, which dates from 1876, with Bradford Civic Society warning of the potential for “irreparable harm”.

Cash Generator and Bradford Council have been approached for comment.

The civic society has written to the council to express its concerns about the building, which was designed by acclaimed architects Henry Lockwood and William Mawson.

In the past, conservation officers had hailed the building’s “restrained but dignified Italianate detailing” – but also warned that modern shopfronts harmed the appearance of the building, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

When the British Heart Foundation opened a store in the neighbouring unit, the charity had to submit a planning application for new signage, and had to re-draw those plans after concerns the initial design did not match the building’s grandeur.

Writing to city planning officers, the civic society highlighted the “garish” Cash Generator sign that it said was unsympathetic to Pearl Assurance House.

Society chairman Si Cunningham said "extra effort" needed to be made when "enhancing" the city's historic streets.

He said: “I’ll keep pushing for the highest standards of design in Bradford city centre, whether it’s a pawnbroker's or a patisserie, because the way a shop or a street looks has a huge impact on how people feel."

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