Concern over 'garish' new signs on listed 1870s building

A new branch of national pawnbroker company Cash Generator is opening in a unit on the ground floor of Pearl Assurance House, on the corner of Kirkgate and Bank Street.

The past week has seen new, bright yellow signage installed on the building, which dates back to 1876 and was designed by acclaimed architects Lockwood and Mawson.

Now Bradford Civic Society has written to Bradford Council, urging them to investigate the work – which has seemingly been carried out without any request for listed building consent.

The society has warned that “irreparable harm” is being done to the most historic streets in Bradford city centre due to the work.

The Telegraph & Argus has contacted Cash Generator to ask about the work, but has yet to receive a response.

In the past, Conservation officers have hailed the Grade II listed building’s “restrained but dignified Italianate detailing” – but also warned that modern shopfronts harmed the appearance of the building.

The new signage on Pearl Assurance House (Image: T&A)

When British Heart Foundation opened a store in the neighbouring unit – also on the ground floor of Pearl Assurance House, the charity had to submit a planning application for new signage, and had to re-draw those plans after concerns that 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 says is unsympathetic to the Grade II listed Pearl Assurance House.

The Society is now calling on the company to install a more sympathetic shopfront, with relevant planning permission, to avoid a potentially-costly enforcement process.

With Primark recently vacating their large unit opposite, and Santander and Superdrug, respectively, relocating to Broadway too, the area has suffered high vacancy rates in recent years. The Civic Society has warned that it is increasingly unattractive to city centre visitors, and undermines the nearby new market on Darley Street.

Civic Society Chairman Si Cunningham says: “The new market is fantastic and we all want this area to thrive again but Kirkgate is currently in a terrible state. Plans to demolish the shopping centre and create a new urban village can’t come soon enough.

“In the meantime, extra effort needs to be put into enhancing the neighbouring historic streets and adhering to planning rules.

“I’ll keep pushing for the highest standards of design in Bradford City Centre, whether it’s a pawnbrokers or a patisserie, because the way a shop or a street looks has a huge impact on how people feel.

“We need a more proactive approach to encouraging high design rather than always having to use the enforcement route.”