Sunderland dog grooming business gets permission to keep Frank Styles mural despite objection

The painting is adjacent to the Hair of the Dog salon, on Durham Road, and was painted under commission by artist Frank Styles earlier this year.

As previously reported, business owner Marcia Dillon commissioned the picture of the pooch, named ‘Frankie’, to lift people’s spirits during the coronavirus lockdown.

But following a complaint, the business was told to apply for planning permission or face enforcement action.

In recent months, Sunderland City Council’s planning department consulted on the plans, with a single objection lodged from a neighbour.

A statement submitted to the council described the painting as “advertising on a massive scale” and an “eyesore for any residents looking out onto it.”

The objector added: “The location is a main artery into Sunderland city and it’s the first thing visitors see when they arrive in the city.

“In my opinion it brings down the entire area.”

Under Town and Country Planning Regulations, any design resembling an advert must be less than 0.75 metres in height, or planning permission is required.

Sunderland City Council previously confirmed that the painting was deemed an advert as it shows a dog in a bath – one of the services offered by the salon.

Following consultation, the council granted planning permission for the mural on Tuesday, December 15.

In a decision notice, planners acknowledged that the “display does cover alarge area of the gable elevation.”

However, they concluded that the advert was “modest in terms of colour and image and it [was] not considered possible to demonstrate visual harm whereby a refusal of permission would be warranted.”

The decision notice went on to say: “It is acknowledged that the advert is on a main highway however for the reasons given above there is no justifiable reasons to resist the development in this location.

“In terms of whether or not the applicant has sought consent from the utility box provider it is advised that this matter falls outside the scope of this application.”

Under planning conditions, planning permission for the mural has been granted for five years.

Business owner Marcia Dillon, said she was “thrilled” with the decision.

“I’m over the moon and I still get lots of comments on it [the mural] on a weekly basis when I’m out shopping so it’s positive,” she said.

“If anybody ever messages us they will always say they’re so pleased the dog is there and ask what’s happening, so it’s great that Frankie will be [able to stay] there.”

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