Plans for a new addition to the high street of Britain’s ‘first city’ have been rejected over concerns it would “erode” the area’s heritage. A planning application for a new communication hub in the busy centre of Colchester, Essex, was dismissed by the local council following an appeal. The proposed site is in a conservation area and close to some of the former Roman city’s most historic buildings.

The application was for the installation of a “freestanding communication hub” and a single illuminated, sequential advertisement display.  Rejecting the proposal, the planning inspector said: "The advert may face away from the Town Hall and the other listed buildings, but nevertheless it would still be seen in conjunction with a significant number of other historic buildings lying to the east within the conservation area.

"Furthermore, although the area may be considered a thriving commercial street, it would add to the digital imagery already present and cumulatively another, large digital advertisement would erode the extent to which the streetscape contributes to the significance of heritage assets."

The planning inspector also cited concerns the proposed development would “add yet more clutter to the streetscape without seemingly needing to be there”.

“The overall significant dimensions and solidity of the hub, including its bulky canopy, would give it an undue prominence in a largely uncluttered area,” the inspector said in a report. 

“It would be prominently seen from many positions within the street and in close visual association with several listed buildings.”

The site was described as a “fairly-large, rectangular structure sited at right angles to the buildings”.

One side of the building would have public communication facilities, plus an emergency call button and a defibrillator, while the other would display “internally illuminated, static LCD advertisements that automatically change”, the report added.

The proposal was made by In Focus Public Networks Limited.

Colchester, which previously had the title of ‘Britain’s oldest recorded town’, received long-awaited city status in 2022.

Colchester Council in 2019 introduced the title of ‘Britain’s First City’ to reflect Colchester being Britain’s first Roman city, despite still being a town at the time. 

Pliny the Elder immortalised Camulodunum, Roman Colchester, as Britain’s first recorded settlement and later Britain’s first city and capital.

The city is around 50 miles north-east of London and has been one of the UK’s fastest growing places in recent years. 

It was estimated to have a population of almost 193,000 in 2021 — an increase of around 11% over a decade.