The iconic Radio City 96.7 signage atop St John's Beacon in Liverpool is set to be removed after more than 25 years, following a planning application submitted to Liverpool Council. The top of the grade II listed 450ft tower has been vacant since the radio station relocated in 2024 after its rebrand to Hits Radio.
Planning application for new LED signage
A bid has been lodged with Liverpool Council to take down the existing Radio City 96.7 signage that spans the side of the top of the building. The signage is to be replaced by a new animated LED screen. A heritage statement attached to the application said this would “improve the visual quality of the signage as visible both during the day and in darkness.”
According to the heritage statement, the current LED display has outlived its stay. It stated: “St John's Beacon is continuing to be used to advertise a business that is no longer resident, and which retains no relationship with the building. This also confuses its own identity, giving the incorrect impression that it continues to be occupied by and part of the radio station.”
History of the tower and signage
Construction began on St John's Beacon 60 years ago as a ventilation flue for the heating system of the precinct built at ground floor level. With its 10m long antenna, the tower remains the tallest structure in Liverpool if its rooftop structures are included. Permission for the station signage was granted in 1999 and completed in 2000.
The proposal states that a new LED signing band will replace the lettering in the same position. No other external modifications are proposed to the beacon or the tower. Heritage assessments by Donald Insall Associates said upgrading the signage would provide a “slight enhancement, improving the building's appearance by removing detracting illuminated signage dating from 2000 and now outdated in character and quality and replacing this with attractive lighting with a high-quality, more contemporary, character.”
Future of the beacon
Rumours have swirled about a possible new future for the beacon, with invitations being sought for even the most “wacky” ideas. However, no permanent occupant has been decided upon for the structure. The new proposed signage is described as “sensitively signed, of a high quality and enhances and improves the building's existing townscape role and prominence as a landmark and an illuminated feature in the skyline.”
A date has yet to be confirmed for the plans to go before Liverpool Council's planning committee for a final decision.
