The Cotswold base for a London-based engineering firm has been forced to request permission for a pair of illuminated signs - after they were put in place at its Cotswold workshops without planning consent.

GEL Engineering's expertise covers water and wastewater treatment, power plants, pipeline rehabilitation and bridge replacements, but the company fell foul of planning regulations after it put two signs measuring nearly ten foot in width on operations unit in Bisley, near Stroud.

Stroud District Council case officer Nick Gardiner told planners that the proposed illumination, of signs each measuring 2.85m by 634cm, was at Parlour Farm, which is a small industrial estate bordering the picturesque village known nationally as the home of author Jilly Cooper.

He said: "The site was formerly a small parcel of agricultural pasture, which was subject to planning permission for the Change of use of land with the erection of a Class E (Part G i, ii and iii) building, landscaping and associated works [in 2020]."

As per the site's permitted hours of work, GEL Engineering proposed to run the illuminated signage from 7:30am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday with reduced hours of 8:00am to 1pm on a Saturday. One local objection had been made to this, with the suggestion that the lit-up signs operated on a shorter 9am to 5pm basis.

David Montgomery, of GEL Engineering, which also has a site in Woodchester, near Stroud, told planners that the signs were internally lit and featured blue text on a grey background. They could be viewed from the nearby lane.

Mr Gardiner added: "The signage is modest in scale on two sides of the host building and will not appear strident or out of character in the context of the employment site to which the building form's part."

Bisley with Lypiatt Parish Council also objected to the bid, on the basis that the site is within the AONB.

However, the Highways Authority told planners it felt that the illumination was "of a low-key nature and would be seen within the context of light spill associated with the operation of the building".

Planners have now approved the application.