A blanket ban to prevent a forest of ‘for sale’ signs springing up in some of west London’s most picturesque streets has been extended for another ten years.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has approved Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s application to renew and expand its estate agent board ban for another decade.
The extended ban, around West Kensington and Hammersmith, came into force on Monday and prevents estate agents from displaying unsightly ‘for sale’ and ‘to let’ boards in three conservation areas without written consent from the council.
The ban, which is the longest approved in the UK so far, covers all properties within the Barons Court, Lakeside/Sinclair/Blythe Road and Brook Green conservation areas.
H&F also has board bans in the Hammersmith Grove conservation area, and the majority of roads in the conservation areas of Olympia and Avonmore and the Gunter Estate, and also Harwood Road.
Historically H&F had a problem with estate agents competing with one another to see who could put up the largest number of advertising boards – especially in roads where large Victorian houses had been converted into several flats.
But a consultation with residents, when the original ban was imposed, showed 98 per cent of respondents backed the council’s moves to eradicate the signs.
“In the digital age when so many people are online or have iPhones or Blackberry’s these intrusive and outdated signs really are not necessary,” says Councillor Nick Botterill, H&F Council deputy leader. “This extension to our popular estate agent board ban means that the large number of tatty signs, that used to blight some of our nicest streets and make them look cluttered and shabby, will remain a thing of the past.”
H&F Council has 100% success rate in gaining prosecutions against estate agents who illegal display advertising boards in the areas covered by the ban.
The council has successfully prosecuted 19 cases in the past 12 months with fines of between £100 and a UK record of £3,500 imposed by magistrates. 15 cases are currently waiting to go to court.
Cllr Botterill concludes:
“The few rogue agents who ignore the ban are being taken to court where the council’s prosecutors have a 100% success rate over the past year.
“Thankfully, the vast majority of agents are respecting the ban and, while the local property market remains strong, the reward is that our historic conservation areas retain their charm and elegance rather than resembling some kind of gaudy high street.”
If you would like to report an illegal board email: boards@lbhf.gov.uk.
