A GOVERNMENT planning inspector has backed Bradford Council’s decision to refuse a business’s plans for external roller shutters.

Arfan Ali had seen his retrospective planning application for the shutters at 790-792 Little Horton Lane refused by the council because it would cause “significant harm” to the character and appearance of this property and the wider area.

Mr Ali appealed the decision, pointing out that a number of other businesses in the area have similar shutters, and that if he did not have the shutters he would be unable to get insurance for the property. But government planning inspector Roger Catchpole agreed with the council’s decision. He said: “The presence of unsympathetic, poorly designed shutters does not justify their continued use.

“The shutters have caused significant harm to the character and appearance of the host properties and the area,” adding that there was no reason internal shutters would not be acceptable.