Retail park operators Land Securities had planned to join up the canopies erected along the front of the adjacent Halfords and General George stores and put up the tower in the gap between them, in front of the old AA yard. Councillors rejected the proposal, arguing the tower would be an “isolated and stand-alone feature which would not relate to a building” and would be “alien to the character of the surrounding area”.

In their appeal to the Executive’s planning inquiry unit, Land Securities and their associates claimed their proposal would minimise the “gap-tooth effect” between the buildings.

In her judgment, Executive Reporter Karen Heywood noted that signage towers were used throughout the retail park to mark entrances to units.

As long as the former AA premises were maintained as a separate unit, it was not unreasonable for them to have a tower bearing an “appropriately sized sign”. Nor would such construction detract from the visual amenity or environment of the retail park, she ruled.

The Reporter has rejected an appeal by Michael King, of 3 Well Street, Monifieth, for an increase in the height and size of an extension to the property.

Angus Council had turned down the planning application after neighbours objected.

Ms Heywood carried out a site visit and decided the proposed structure would have an “over-bearing and over-dominating” effect on the houses at 5a Well Street and 4 and 6 Panmure Street.