A proposal to remove 15 telephone boxes and install six digital advertising kiosks has been submitted to Richmond Council with an offer of free advertising.

New World Payphones (NWP), which owns and operates payphones around the country, applied to the council in June 2023 to remove and replace telephone boxes in Teddington, Richmond, Twickenham, and Whitton.

The planning statement reads: "The proposal includes Council use of the advertisement panel...for Council communication purposes. This would compromise one ten second slot in each hour, at no cost to the Council, to be secured by agreement."

The 27-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, operating behind toughened glass, is proposed to run from 8 August 2023 to 6 August 2028.

Example of a digital kiosk in Kingston with LCD advertising. (Photo: Emily Dalton)

Whereas advertisement on the previous telephone boxes was an afterthought or a by-product, the proposed kiosk is different as the advertising is an integral part of its design due to the nature of its financing.

The submitted document aims to upgrade six of the existing 15 boxes across the borough to the new electronic communications services kiosk, an initiative funded by advertising. The telephone boxes not upgraded will be removed. 

The proposed service kiosks will be placed in Teddington, Richmond, Twickenham, and Whitton. They will be in addition to the applicant's electronic communications networks New World Payphones across the UK. 

According to a planning statement, the new kiosks' design is said to "draw appropriate influence from UK kiosk design heritage" as well as being "open" to support accessibility needs and prevent antisocial behaviour.   

Table of telephone boxes to be removed and kiosks to be replaced. (Photo: Richmond Council)

One of the proposed kiosk installations is to be placed on Teddington's Broad Street alongside the ground floor of Key Shopping Frontage. 

The planning document states: "The proposed Kiosk is a contemporary, aesthetically pleasing design that would represent an improvement on the existing kiosk functionally and visually." 

The current 15 telephone boxes date back to the 1990's and are regarded as "tired-looking structures" with "outmoded" equipment, according to council documents.

However, the current telephone boxes are still being used with most calls made to mobile and the Emergency services. 

NWP claims it recognises the use of public telephone boxes have declined and therefore the kiosks create the opportunity to rationalise existing networks and declutter the public realm.  

In terms of size, the proposed kiosks are to be 69mm taller, 148mm wider but 186mm less deep than the traditional telephone boxes. The proposed design has an open L-shaped footprint measuring 0.41 square metre, half that of the existing kiosk.

The new kiosk will feature modern innovations, such as: credit/debit card and cash payments, 27-inch LCD interactive display, provision of public Wi-Fi and location-based information via on-display QR codes

Comparison between existing and proposed telephone box. (Photo: Richmond Council)

The planning reports detail the new kiosks will "enhance [the] local amenity" and will be an aesthetic addition to the existing street design. The document read: "It would be viewed by passers-by as an example of modern street furniture the likes of which are increasingly commonplace."

Neighbourhoods and residents are currently in consultation on the plan with a deadline set for 20 September 2023.

It is the second planning document NWP has submitted, the first being in December 2022. After the council's consultation, the pre-application document was amended with a further statement in March 2023. 

According to the pre-application, Area Team Manager Chris North said: "There is no objection to the removal of the existing kiosk which is not considered to contribute to the character of the locality nor neighbouring conservation area."

NWP promises to plant a street tree for every new kiosk installed, as part of its commitment to global charity 'Trees for Cities'. The council and NWP would agree on the set location.

 The proposed Kiosk has been consented in 55 local authorities across the country including 31 of the 33 London Boroughs including, Kingston. Around 500 new services Kiosks are consented in cities across the country.

Example of a digital kiosk in Kingston. (Photo: Emily Dalton)