New regulations relating to outdoor adverts have been in force since 6 April 2007. These regulations were designed to update the old rules to take into account technological developements, and to improve the application and appeal processes.

There are now three types of outdoor adverts:

• Those outside of the 2007 Regulations;
• Those inside the Regulations, but are deemed to receive consent automatically;
• Those that require the local planning authority’s express consent.

The first category include adverts on moving vehicles, adverts inside buildings, and those that are part of the fabric of a building not used principally for displaying adverts.

Temporary adverts, adverts relating to the premises on which they are displayed, and adverts on telephone kiosks attract deemed consent – but the consent can be revoked by the local planning authority serving a discontinuance notice.

If express consent is required, the local planning authority will take into account amenity (aural and visual); public safety (road safety, crime prevention); and crime detection (the obstruction of speed, surveillance and security cameras).

The maximum penalty for display of an advertisement in contravention of hte Reulations is £2500 with further fines per day in respect of continuing offences.

The Department for Communities and Local Government has published a useful short guide at:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/326679