Camden Council is to serve an enforcement notice on “Palestine House” in Central London, to remove a large illuminated sign saying “Stop the Genocide” and Jerusalem Stone style cladding.

The building in High Holborn, London, previously draped with a massive advert for “Gaza Cola”, is in trouble again with Camden Council for breaching planning laws, following complaints by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).

Camden Council previously enforced the removal of the Gaza Cola ad from scaffolding covering the building.  Now they are going to serve an enforcement notice on Palestine House to remove the cladding and illuminated sign, and are also investigating an advert projecting from one side of the building’s facade, and the many political adverts on the pavement outside.

After receiving several complaints from members of the public, UKLFI wrote to Camden Council about various breaches of planning law regarding Palestine House, which advertises itself as a “community hub designed to embody the spirit and heritage of Palestine”.

1. UKLFI pointed out that the slogan “Stop the genocide” on the illuminated sign will be understood by many as referring to the alleged genocide by Israel of Palestinians in Gaza. This allegation is false but unfortunately it is readily believed. The sign advertises this inflammatory claim, which incites hatred against Jews, who are naturally associated with the Jewish State.

Unless express consent has been obtained, the sign violates The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 (“the Regulations”).  The slogan does not refer to the business carried on, goods sold or services provided on the premises, so the sign is not covered by Class 4B in Schedule 3 to the Regulations.

UKLFI also believes that the size of the illuminated sign is larger than planning regulations allow and not compliant with condition (6) of Class 4B in Schedule 3 to the Regulations.

2. Two round illuminated advertisements project on each side of the façade of the building, when only one is allowed.

1. Numerous provocative political advertisements are placed on the street pavement outside the premises, particularly during the establishment’s opening hours, despite regulations only allowing one.

1. Additional provocative advertisements have been placed in the ground floor window in full view from the street. These do not comply with condition 2 of Class I of Schedule 1 to the Regulations.

UKLFI also reminded Camden that in exercising its function of enforcement of the applicable planning law, the Council is required by the public sector equality duty (PSED) in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 to have due regard to the need to foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.

Jonathan Turner, chief executive of UKLFI explained: “The advertisements on and around Palestine House promote hate related to protected characteristics of Israeli nationality, Jewish ethnicity and religion, and Zionist philosophical belief. This hate is a serious threat to social cohesion, particularly at the present time when antisemitic incidents and hate crime are at record levels. In these circumstances, we consider that the PSED compels the Council to address these violations of planning law as a priority.”