Shop owners, designers, contractors and those involved in planning are being encouraged to help protect the character of Cornwall’s historic towns by following Cornwall Council’s Shopfront Design Guide.

The guidance will be used early in the planning process to help improve poorly maintained or replacement shopfronts and signs in historic towns and villages.

The Shopfront Design Guide has been produced by Cornwall Council’s Historic Environment Service to protect the character of Cornwall’s historic settlements.  It gives advice on the repair of original shopfronts and design of new shopfronts and signs.

An appendix to the Shopfront Design Guide for St Austell has been produced with funding from St Austell Town Council.  It gives advice on specific issues with shopfronts and signs in the town’s conservation area.

Funded by Cornwall Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Shopfront Design Guide and Appendix for St Austell has been produced with input from shop owners, designers, contractors and planners. It includes information on making shops accessible for all and choice of building materials.

Both the Shopfront Design Guide and Appendix for St Austell are available online at: www.cornwall.gov.uk/shopfrontguide.