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Advertising signage

Notes from

Outdoor advertisements and signs: a guide for advertisers

www.gov.uk/government/ publications/outdoor-advertisements-and-signs-a-guide-for-advertisers
From: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Published  18 June 2007


The advertisement control system in England consists of rules made by the Secretary of State, which is part of the planning control system. The present legislation is the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007.
There is also an official Circular and Planning Policy Guidance Notes, produced by the (former Department) for Communities and Local Government – Circular No 03/2007 and DOE Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) Note No 19.


Throughout England, local planning authorities (LPA) are responsible for the day-to-day operation of the advertisement control system, and for deciding whether a particular advertisement should be permitted or not.
All outdoor advertisements must comply with five Standard Conditions.
They must:
1.    Be kept clean and tidy;
2.    be kept in a safe condition;
3.    have the permission of the owner of the site on which they are displayed (this includes the Highway Authority if the sign is to be placed on highway land;
4.    not obscure, or hinder the interpretation of official road [or other transport] signs;
5.    be removed carefully where so required by the Local Planning Authority.


An outdoor advertisement is permitted without the LPA’s specific consent if it complies with specific provisions.
For example Class 2(B) permits notices or signs to be displayed on any premises for the purpose of advertising... a profession, business or trade at those premises... and must not exceed 0.3m2 in area.
Class 2(C) permits notices or signs which relate to any religious, educational, cultural, recreational, medical or similar institution... provided that the advertisement is displayed at the premises and does not exceed 1.2m2 in area.


Every Local Planning Authority is obliged to consider whether any part of their area should be an area of special control for advertisements because of the need to protect amenity... The effect is to limit some categories of advertisement that benefit from deemed consent. Areas of special control are likely also to be Conservation Areas, but one designation does not follow the other.