Dash! Enforcement Action

THE owner of a Leigh coffee shop is set to be ordered to tear down orange signs after installing them without planning permission.

The popular Dash!, on the corner of Broadway West boasts five star reviews, but Southend Council is now gearing up to approve enforcement action.

According to the council, the aluminium shopfront and signs, as well as its awning, are “causing harm” to the street scene in the Leigh Conservation Area.

They say the awning contravenes planning rules for this area of Leigh, with the breach of planning rules first reported to the council in August 2022.

A planning application for installing a new shopfront to the unit was rejected in December 2022, and another application to retain its metal shopfront and awnings and install various moulded timber panels was rejected in July 2023.

An appeal against the Council’s decision for the 2023 Application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in February 2024.

This was dismissed in May 2024.

If enforcement action is now approved, the business will be forced to remove the signs within six months.

Coun Daniel Cowan, Labour leader of Southend Council, reportedly said: “Enforcement action is often a last resort for our planning department and they have raised significant concerns about the unauthorised shopfronts, fascias and awnings on the building.

“Our planning officers are highly trained and work hard with residents and businesses on their planning applications to get the best mutual outcome.

“It is important that planning permission is granted before work is carried out and we encourage all to consider using our pre-application service to help pre-empt any issues or concerns.

“This is now a matter for our development control committee to consider.”

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