PART IGENERAL

Citation and Commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1989 and shall come into force on 22nd May 1989.

Interpretation

2.-(1) In these Regulations-�

"the Act" means the Town and Country Planning Act 1971;

"advertisement" does not include anything employed wholly as a memorial or as a railway signal;

"area of outstanding natural beauty" means an area designated as such by an order made under section 87 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949(4);

"area of special control" means an area designated by an order under regulation 18;

"balloon" means a tethered balloon or similar object;

"deemed consent" has the meaning given by regulation 5;

"discontinuance notice" means a notice served under regulation 8;

"express consent" has the meaning given by regulation 5;

"illuminated advertisement" means an advertisement which is designed or adapted to be illuminated by artificial lighting, directly or by reflection, and which is so illuminated;

"National Park" has the meaning given by section 5 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949;

"site" means any land or building, other than any advertisement, on which an advertisement is displayed;

"standard conditions" means the conditions specified in Schedule 1 to these Regulations;

"statutory undertaker" includes, in addition to any person mentioned in section 290(1) of the Act, the Civil Aviation Authority, any relevant airport operator within the meaning of section 57 of the Airports Act 1986(5), the British Airports Authority, the British Coal Corporation, any public gas supplier within the meaning of Part I of the Gas Act 1986(6) and any telecommunications code system operator; and statutory undertaking shall be interpreted accordingly;

"telecommunications code system operator" means a person who has been granted a licence under section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1984(7) which applies the telecommunications code to him in pursuance of section 10 of that Act;

"vehicle" includes a vessel on any inland waterway.

(2) In these Regulations, "local planning authority" means-�

(a)for land in the area of an urban development corporation, which is the local planning authority for the purposes of sections 63 and 109 of the Act, and except in regulation 18, that corporation;

(b)for land in a National Park outside the metropolitan counties, the county planning authority for the area; and

(c)in any other case, the district planning authority for the area.

(3) Any reference in these Regulations to the person displaying an advertisement includes-�

(a)the owner and occupier of the land on which the advertisement is displayed;

(b)any person to whose goods, trade, business or other concerns publicity is given by the advertisement; and

(c)the person who undertakes or maintains the display of an advertisement.

(4) Except in Schedule 2, Class A, any reference in these Regulations to the land, the building, the site or premises on which the advertisement is displayed includes, in the case of an advertisement which is displayed on, or which consists of, a balloon, a reference to the land, the building, the site or other premises to which the balloon is attached and to all land, buildings or other premises normally occupied therewith.

Application

3.-(1) These Regulations apply to the display on any site in England or Wales of any advertisement.

(2) Parts II and III of these Regulations do not apply to an advertisement within any description set out in Schedule 2, which complies with-�

(i)any conditions and limitations there specified; and

(ii)the standard conditions, except that paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 does not apply in the case of any Class G advertisement.

Powers to be exercised in the interests of amenity and public safety

4.-(1) A local planning authority shall exercise their powers under these Regulations only in the interests of amenity and public safety, taking account of any material factors and in particular-�

(a)in the case of amenity, of the general characteristics of the locality, including the presence of any feature of historic, architectural, cultural or similar interest, disregarding, if they think fit, any advertisements being displayed there;

(b)in the case of public safety-�

(i)the safety of any person who may use any road, railway, waterway (including coastal waters), docks, harbour or airfield;

(ii)whether any display of advertisements is likely to obscure, or hinder the ready interpretation of, any road traffic sign, railway signal, or aid to navigation by water or air.

(2) In determining an application for consent for the display of advertisements, or considering whether to make an order revoking or modifying a consent, the local planning authority may have regard to any material change in circumstances likely to occur within the period for which the consent is required or granted.

(3) Unless it appears to a local planning authority to be required in the interests of amenity or public safety, an express consent for the display of advertisements shall not contain any limitation or restriction relating to the subject matter, content or design of what is to be displayed.

(4) A consent for the display of advertisements shall take effect as consent for the use of the site for the purposes of the display, whether by the erection of structures or otherwise, and for the benefit of any person interested in the site.

Requirement for consent

5. Except as provided by regulation 3(2) and regulation 19(1)(9), no advertisement may be displayed without consent granted by the local planning authority or by the Secretary of State on an application in that behalf (referred to in these Regulations as "express consent"), or granted by regulation 6 below (referred to in these Regulations as "deemed consent").

PART IIDEEMED CONSENT

Deemed consent for the display of advertisements

6.-(1) Subject to regulations 7 and 8 below, deemed consent is hereby granted for the display of an advertisement falling within any class specified in Part I of Schedule 3, subject-�

(a)to any conditions and limitations specified in that Part in relation to that class; and

(b)to the standard conditions.

(2) Part II of Schedule 3 applies for the interpretation of that Schedule.

Directions restricting deemed consent

7.-(1) If the Secretary of State is satisfied, upon a proposal made to him by the local planning authority, that the display of advertisements of any class or description specified in Schedule 3, other than Class 11B, 12 or 13, should not be undertaken in any particular area or in any particular case without express consent, he may direct that the consent granted by regulation 6 for that class or description shall not apply in that area or in that case, for a specified period or indefinitely.

(2) Before making any such direction, the Secretary of State shall-�

(a)where the proposal relates to a particular area, publish, or cause to be published, in at least one newspaper circulating in the locality, and on the same or a subsequent date in the London Gazette, a notice that such a proposal has been made, naming a place or places in the locality where a map or maps defining the area concerned may be inspected at all reasonable hours; and

(b)where the proposal relates to a particular case, serve, or cause to be served, on the owner and occupier of the land affected and on any other person who, to his knowledge, proposes to display on such land an advertisement of the class or description concerned, a notice that a proposal has been made, specifying the land and the class or description of advertisement in question.

(3) Any notice under paragraph (2) above shall state that any objection to the making of a direction may be made to the Secretary of State in writing within such period (not being less than 21 days from the date when the notice is given) as may be specified.

(4) The Secretary of State shall not make a direction under this regulation until after the expiry of the specified period.

(5) In determining whether to make a direction, the Secretary of State-�

(a)shall take into account any objections made in accordance with paragraph (3) above;

(b)may modify the proposal of the local planning authority if-�

(i)he has notified, in writing, that authority and any person who has made an objection or representation to him of his intention and the reasons for it and has given them a reasonable opportunity to respond; and

(ii)the intended modification does not extend the area of land specified in the proposal.

(6) Where the Secretary of State makes a direction, he shall send it to the local planning authority, with a statement in writing of his reasons for making it, and shall send a copy of that statement to any person who has made an objection in accordance with paragraph (3) above.

(7) Notice of the making of any direction for a particular area shall be published by the local planning authority in at least one newspaper circulating in the locality and, unless the Secretary of State otherwise directs, on the same or a subsequent date in the London Gazette, and such a notice shall-�

(a)contain a full statement of the effect of the direction;

(b)name a place or places in the locality where a copy of the direction and of a map defining the area concerned may be seen at all reasonable hours; and

(c)specify a date when the direction shall come into force, at least 14 and not more than 28 days after the first publication of the notice.

(8) Notice of the making of any direction for a particular case shall be served by the local planning authority on the owner and on any occupier of the land to which the direction relates, and on any other person who, to the knowledge of the authority, proposes to display on such land an advertisement of the class or description affected.

(9) A direction for an area shall come into force on the date specified in the notice given under paragraph (7) above; and a direction for a particular case shall come into force on the date on which notice is served on the occupier or, if there is no occupier, on the owner of the land affected.

Discontinuance of deemed consent

8.-(1) The local planning authority may serve a notice requiring the discontinuance of the display of an advertisement, or the use of a site for the display of an advertisement, for which deemed consent is granted under regulation 6-�

(a)if they are satisfied it is necessary to do so to remedy a substantial injury to the amenity of the locality or a danger to members of the public; and

(b)in the case of any advertisement within Class 12 in Schedule 3, if the advertisement is not also within Class F or G in Schedule 2.

(2) A discontinuance notice-�

(a)shall be served on the advertiser and on the owner and occupier of the site on which the advertisement is displayed;

(b)may, if the local planning authority think fit, also be served on any other person displaying the advertisement;

(c)shall specify the advertisement or the site to which it relates;

(d)shall specify a period within which the display or the use of the site (as the case may be) is to be discontinued; and

(e)shall contain a full statement of the reasons for taking discontinuance action.

(3) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5) below, a discontinuance notice shall take effect at the end of the period (being at least 8 weeks after the date on which it is served) specified in the notice.

(4) If an appeal is made to the Secretary of State under regulation 15, the notice shall be of no effect pending the final determination or withdrawal of the appeal.

(5) The local planning authority, by a notice served on the advertiser, may withdraw a discontinuance notice at any time before it takes effect or may, where no appeal to the Secretary of State is pending, from time to time vary a discontinuance notice by extending the period specified for the taking effect of the notice.

(6) The local planning authority shall, on serving on the advertiser a notice of withdrawal or variation under paragraph (5) above, send a copy to every other person served with the discontinuance notice.

PART IIIEXPRESS CONSENT

Applications for express consent

9.-(1) An application for express consent shall be made-�

(a)where it relates to land in a National Park outside a metropolitan county, to the district planning authority; and

(b)in any other case, to the local planning authority.

(2) In a case to which paragraph (1)(a) above applies-�

(a)the district planning authority shall transmit the application to the county planning authority; and

(b)the application shall be treated as if made on the day on which it is received by the county planning authority.

(3) Such an application shall be made on a form-�

(a)provided by the local planning authority; and

(b)containing the particulars required by the form, accompanied by such plans as the authority may require and by 2 copies of the form and plans.

(4) The local planning authority may, if they think fit, accept an application in writing which does not comply with any of the provisions of paragraph (3).

Secretary of State's directions

10. The Secretary of State may give directions to a local planning authority, either generally or in relation to a particular case or class of case, specifying the kinds of particulars, plans or information to be contained in an application for express consent.

Receipt of applications

11. On receipt of an application for express consent, the local planning authority-�

(a)shall send an acknowledgement in writing to the applicant;

(b)may direct the applicant in writing to provide one of their offers with such evidence as may be reasonably called for to verify any particulars or information given to them.

Duty to consult

12.-(1) Before granting an express consent, a local planning authority shall consult-�

(a)any neighbouring local planning authority, any part of whose area appears likely to be affected;

(b)where they consider that a grant of consent may affect the safety of persons using any trunk road (as defined in section 329 of the Highways Act 1980(8)) in England, the Secretary of State for Transport;

(c)where they consider that a grant of consent may affect the safety of persons using any railway, waterway (including any coastal waters), dock, harbour or aerodrome (civil or military), the person responsible for the operation thereof, and, in the case of coastal waters, the Corporation of Trinity House.

(2) The local planning authority shall give anyone whom they are required to consult at least 14 days' notice that the relevant application is to be considered and shall take into account any representations made by any such person.

Power to deal with applications

13.-(1) Subject to regulation 19 below, where an application for express consent is made to the local planning authority, they may-�

(a)refuse consent; or

(b)grant consent, in whole or in part, subject to the standard conditions and to such additional conditions as they think fit, subject to paragraphs (3) to (6) below.

(2) An express consent may be-�

(a)for the display of a particular advertisement or advertisements with or without illumination, as the applicant specifies;

(b)for the use of a particular site for the display of advertisements in a specified manner, whether by reference to the number, siting, size or illumination of the advertisements, or the structures intended for such display, or the design or appearance of any such structure, or otherwise; or

(c)for the retention of any display of advertisements or the continuation of the use of a site begun before the date of the application.

(3) The conditions imposed under paragraph (1)(b) above may in particular include conditions-�

(a)regulating the display of advertisements to which the consent relates;

(b)regulating the use for the display of advertisements of the site to which the application relates or any adjacent land under the control of the applicant, or requiring the carrying out of works on any such land;

(c)requiring the removal of any advertisement or the discontinuance of any use of land authorised by the consent, at the end of a specified period, and the carrying out of any works then required for the reinstatement of the land.

(4) The local planning authority shall not, under paragraph (1)(b) above, impose any conditions in relation to the display of an advertisement within any class specified in Schedule 3, more restrictive than those imposed by that Schedule in relation to that class.

(5) Subject to paragraph (4) above, an express consent shall be subject to the condition that it expires at the end of-�

(a)a period of 5 years from the date of the consent, or

(b)such longer or shorter period as the local planning authority may specify in granting the consent.

(6) A local planning authority may specify a period under paragraph (5)(b) above as a period running in the alternative, from the date of commencement of the display or a specified date not later than 6 months after the consent is granted, whichever is the earlier.

(7) An application for the renewal of an express consent may not be made at a date earlier than 6 months before the expiry of that consent.

Notification of decision

14.-(1) The grant or refusal of an express consent by a local planning authority shall be notified in writing to the applicant within a period of 8 weeks from the date of the receipt of the application or such longer period as the applicant may, before that date, agree in writing.

(2) The authority shall state in writing their reasons for-�

(a)any refusal of consent in whole or in part;

(b)any decision to attach any condition under regulation 13(1)(b) to a consent, except a condition specified in Schedule 3 in a case to which regulation 13(4) applies; and

(c)any condition imposing a shorter period than that specified in regulation 13(5)(a), except where the application specified that shorter period.

Appeals to the Secretary of State

15.-(1) Sections 36 and 37 of the Act shall apply, in relation to applications for express consent under these Regulations, subject to the modifications set out in Part I of Schedule 4.

(2) The provisions of sections 36 and 37, as modified under paragraph (1) above, are set out in Part II of Schedule 4.

(3) Where a discontinuance notice is served under regulation 8, section 36 of the Act shall apply with the modifications specified in Part III of Schedule 4.

Revocation or modification of express consent

16.-(1) If a local planning authority are satisfied that it is expedient, they may by order revoke or modify an express consent, subject to paragraphs (2) to (6) below.

(2) An order under paragraph (1) above shall not take effect without the approval of the Secretary of State, which may be granted with or without modifications.

(3) When an authority submit an order made under this regulation to the Secretary of State for approval, they shall serve notice on the person who applied for the express consent, the owner and the occupier of the land affected and any other person who, in their opinion, will be affected by the order, specifying a period of at least 28 days from the service of the notice, within which an objection may be made, as provided in paragraph (4) below.

(4) If, within the period specified in the notice, an objection to the order is received by the Secretary of State from any person on whom notice is served, the Secretary of State shall, before approving the order, give to that person and to the local planning authority an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by him.

(5) The power to make an order under this regulation may be exercised-�

(a)in a case which involves the carrying out of building or other operations, at any time before those operations have been completed;

(b)in any other case, at any time before the display of advertisements is begun.

(6) In a case to which paragraph (5)(a) above applies, the revocation or modification of consent shall not affect such operations as have already been carried out.

Compensation for revocation or modification

17.-(1) Where-�

(a)an order under regulation 16 takes effect; and

(b)a claim is made in accordance with paragraph (2) below,

a local planning authority shall pay compensation to any person suffering loss or damage in the circumstances and to the extent specified in paragraph (3) below.

(2) A claim for compensation shall be made in writing and served on the local planning authority, by delivery at the offices of the authority or by post to their offices, within 6 months of the approval of the order to which it relates.

(3) Compensation is payable if, and to the extent that, any person has-�

(a)incurred expenditure in carrying out abortive work, including the preparation of plans or similar material;

(b)otherwise sustained loss or damage directly attributable to the order, other than loss or damage consisting of any depreciation in value of any interest in land,

but excluding any work done, or loss or damage arising out of anything done or not done before the grant of consent.

PART IVAREAS OF SPECIAL CONTROL

Area of Special Control Orders

18.-(1) Every local planning authority shall from time to time consider whether any part or additional part of their area should be designated as an area of special control.

(2) An area of special control shall be designated by an area of special control order made by the local planning authority and approved by the Secretary of State, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5.

(3) An area of special control order may be revoked or modified by a subsequent order made by the authority and approved by the Secretary of State, in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5.

(4) Where an area of special control order is in force, the local planning authority shall consider at least once in every 5 years whether it should be revoked or modified.

(5) Before making an order under this regulation, a local planning authority shall consult-�

(a)where it appears to them that the order will be likely to affect any part of the area of a neighbouring local planning authority, that authority;

(b)where the order will relate to any land within a National Park, any district planning authority within whose area any of that land is situated.

(6) A local planning authority shall not exercise their power under this regulation in the interests of public safety within the meaning of regulation 4(1).

Control in areas of special control

19.-(1) No advertisements may be displayed in an area of special control unless they come within-�

(a)Classes B to J in Schedule 2;

(b)Classes 1 to 3 and 5 to 14 in Schedule 3; or

(c)paragraphs (2) to (5) below.

(2) Advertisements of the following descriptions may be displayed in an area of special control with express consent, subject to paragraph (3) below-�

(a)hoardings or similar structures to be used only for the display of notices relating to local events, activities or entertainments;

(b)any advertisement for the purpose of announcement or direction in relation to buildings or other land in the locality, reasonably required having regard to the nature and situation of such buildings or other land;

(c)any advertisement required in the interests of public safety;

(d)any advertisement which could be displayed under paragraph (1) above but for some non-compliance with a condition or limitation as respects size, height from the ground, number or illumination imposed by Schedule 3.

(3) Express consent may not be given for the purposes of paragraph (2) above for an illuminated advertisement, other than one illuminated for the purpose of indicating that medical or similar services or supplies are available at the premises on which the advertisement is displayed.

(4) On the coming into force of an area of special control order-�

(a)any advertisement within paragraph (2)(d) above for which express consent has been granted may continue to be displayed after the expiry of that consent, by virtue of Class 14 in Schedule 3, subject to the power of the local planning authority to serve a discontinuance notice under regulation 8;

(b)any other advertisement for which express consent has been given may continue to be displayed for 6 months from the date on which the order comes into force or for the remainder of the term of the consent, whichever is the longer; and

(c)any other advertisement displayed in accordance with these Regulations may continue to be displayed for 8 months from the date on which the order comes into force.

(5) Where paragraph (4)(b) or (c) above applies, the relevant advertisement shall be removed forthwith, at the end of the relevant period, unless a further consent is granted for its continued display in accordance with this regulation.

(6) Nothing in the foregoing provisions of this regulation shall-�

(a)affect a notice served under regulation 8 at any time;

(b)override any condition attached to a consent, whereby the advertisement is required to be removed;

(c)restrict the powers of a local planning authority, or of the Secretary of State, in regard to any contravention of these Regulations;

(d)restrict the power of the local planning authority, or of the Secretary of State, to consent to the display, in an area of special control, of an advertisement of a class in respect of which a direction under regulation 7 is in force.

PART VMISCELLANEOUS

Compensation under section 176 of the Act

20.-(1) The time limit prescribed for the purpose of making a claim for compensation under section 176 of the Act is a period of 6 months from the completion of works carried out-�

(a)to remove an advertisement displayed on 1st August 1948; or

(b)to discontinue the use for the display of advertisements of a site used since that date.

(2) Any such claim shall contain such information as the local planning authority consider is required to enable them properly to determine the claim.

Register of applications

21.-(1) Every local planning authority shall keep a register containing particulars of-�

(a)any application made to them for express consent for the display of an advertisement, including the name and address of the applicant, the date of the application and the type of advertisement concerned;

(b)any direction given under these Regulations relating to the application;

(c)the date and effect of any decision of the local planning authority on the application;

(d)the date and effect of any decision of the Secretary of State on an appeal.

(2) The register shall include an index to enable a person to trace any entry therein.

(3) Any part of the register which relates to land within a particular part of the area of a local planning authority may be kept at a place within or convenient to that part of their area.

(4) Subject to paragraph (3) above, the register shall be kept at the office of the local planning authority.

(5) Every entry in the register consisting of particulars of an application shall be made within 14 days of the receipt of that application.

(6) The register shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable hours.

Powers of the Secretary of State

22.-(1) The Secretary of State may give a direction to a local planning authority, or to such authorities generally, requiring them to provide him with information required for the purpose of any of his functions under these Regulations.

(2) Subject to regulation 23 below, if it appears to the Secretary of State, after consultation with the local planning authority, that-�

(a)a discontinuance notice should be served under regulation 8; or

(b)an area of special control order or a revocation order under regulation 18 should be made,

he may himself serve such a notice or make such an order.

(3) Where the Secretary of State proposes to exercise his power under paragraph (2) above, the provisions of regulations 8, 15 and 18 shall apply, with such modifications as may be necessary, as they apply to the action of a local planning authority.

Secretary of State's discontinuance notice

23.-(1) If the Secretary of State is satisfied that it is necessary to remedy a substantial injury to the amenity of the locality or a danger to members of the public, he may serve a discontinuance notice under regulation 8 above in relation to an advertisement within Class 1B in Schedule 3.

(2) Paragraphs (2), (5) and (6) of regulation 8 shall apply to a discontinuance notice to which paragraph (1) above applies as if references to the local planning authority were references to the Secretary of State.

(3) Regulation 15(3) above shall apply to a discontinuance notice to which paragraph (1) above applies, with such modifications as may be necessary.

Extension of time limits

24. The Secretary of State may, in any particular case, extend the time within which anything is required to be done under these Regulations or within which any objection, representation or claim for compensation may be made.

Directions

25. Any power conferred by these Regulations to give a direction includes power to cancel or vary the direction by a subsequent direction.

Contravention of Regulations

26. A person displaying an advertisement in contravention of these Regulations shall be liable on summary conviction of an offence under section 109(2) of the Act to a fine of an amount not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, in the case of a continuing offence, £40 for each day during which the offence continues after conviction.

Statutory Instruments revoked

27. The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1984(9), the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Amendment) Regulations 1987(10) and the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1987(11) are hereby revoked.

Regulation 2(1)

SCHEDULE 1STANDARD CONDITIONS

1. Any advertisements displayed, and any site used for the display of advertisements, shall be maintained in a clean and tidy condition to the reasonable satisfaction of the local planning authority.

2. Any structure or hoarding erected or used principally for the purpose of displaying advertisements shall be maintained in a safe condition.

3. Where an advertisement is required under these Regulations to be removed, the removal shall be carried out to the reasonable satisfaction of the local planning authority.

4. No advertisement is to be displayed without the permission of the owner of the site or any other person with an interest in the site entitled to grant permission.

5. No advertisement shall be sited or displayed so as to obscure, or hinder the ready interpretation of, any road traffic sign, railway signal or aid to navigation by water or air, or so as otherwise to render hazardous the use of any highway, railway, waterway (including any coastal waters) or aerodrome (civil or military).

Regulation 3

SCHEDULE 2CLASSES OF ADVERTISEMENTS TO WHICH PARTS II AND III OF THESE REGULATIONS DO NOT APPLY

Regulation 6

SCHEDULE 3CLASSES OF ADVERTISEMENTS WHICH MAY BE DISPLAYED WITH DEEMED CONSENT

PART Ispecified classes and conditions

Class 1

Functional advertisements of local authorities, statutory undertakers and public transport undertakers

Description

1A. An advertisement displayed wholly for the purpose of announcement or direction in relation to any of the functions of a local authority or to the operation of a statutory undertaking or a public transport undertaking, which-�

(a)is reasonably required to be displayed for the safe or efficient performance of those functions, or operation of that undertaking, and

(b)cannot be displayed by virtue of any other specified class.

Conditions and Limitations

1A.-(1) Illumination is not permitted unless reasonably required for the purpose of the advertisement.

Description

1B. An advertisement displayed by a local planning authority on land in their area.

Conditions and Limitations

1B.-(1) In an area of special control, no advertisement may be displayed for which the authority could not have granted express consent.

Class 2

Miscellaneous advertisements relating to the premises on which they are displayed

Description

2A. An advertisement displayed for the purpose of identification, direction or warning, with respect to the land or building on which it is displayed.

Conditions and Limitations

2A.-(1) No such advertisement is to exceed 0.3 square metre in area.

(2) Illumination is not permitted.

(3) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height, or 0.3 metre in an area of special control.

(4) No part of the advertisement may be more than 4.6 metres above ground level, or 3.6 metres in an area of special control.

Description

2B. An advertisement relating to any person, partnership or company separately carrying on a profession, business or trade at the premises where it is displayed.

Conditions and Limitations

2B.-(1) No advertisement is to exceed 0.3 square metre in area.

(2) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height, or 0.3 metre in an area of special control.

(3) No part of the advertisement may be more than 4.6 metres above ground level, or 3.6 metres in an area of special control.

(4) Not more than one such advertisement is permitted for each person, partnership or company or, in the case of premises with entrances on different road frontages, one such advertisement at each of two such entrances.

(5) Illumination is not permitted unless the advertisement states that medical or similar services or supplies are available on the premises and the illumination is in a manner reasonably required for that purpose.

Description

2C. An advertisement relating to any institution of a religious, educational, cultural, recreational or medical or similar character, or to any hotel, inn or public house, block of flats, club, boarding house or hostel, at the premises where it is displayed.

Conditions and Limitations

2C.-(1) Not more than one such advertisement is permitted in respect of each premises or, in the case of premises with entrances on different road frontages, one such advertisement at each of two such entrances.

(2) No such advertisement may exceed 1.2 square metres in area.

(3) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height, or 0.3 metre in an area of special control.

(4) No part of the advertisement may be more than 4.6 metres above ground level, or 3.6 metres in an area of special control.

(5) Illumination is not permitted unless the advertisement states that medical or similar services or supplies are available at the premises and the illumination is in a manner reasonably required for that purpose.

Class 3

Miscellaneous temporary advertisements

Description

3A. An advertisement relating to the sale or letting, for residential, agricultural, industrial or commercial use or for development for such use, of the land or premises on which it is displayed.

Conditions and Limitations

3A.-(1) (a) Not more than one such advertisement, consisting of a single board or two joined boards, is permitted.

(b)Where more than one such advertisement is displayed, the first to be displayed shall be taken to be the one permitted.

(2) No advertisement may be displayed indicating that land or premises have been sold or let, other than by the addition to an existing advertisement of a statement that a sale or letting has been agreed, or that the land or premises have been sold or let, subject to contract.

(3) Any Class 3A advertisement shall be removed within 14 days after the sale is completed or a tenancy is granted.

(4) No such advertisement may exceed in area-�

(a)where the advertisement relates to residential use or development, 0.5 square metre or, in the case of two joined boards together, 0.6 square metre in aggregate;

(b)where the advertisement relates to any other use or development, 2 square metres or, in the case of two joined boards, 2.3 square metres.

(5) Where the advertisement is displayed on a building, the maximum projection permitted from the face of the building is 1 metre.

(6) Illumination is not permitted.

(7) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height, or 0.3 metre in an area of special control.

(8) No part of the advertisement may be higher above ground level than 4.6 metres, or 3.6 metres in an area of special control or, in the case of a sale or letting of part only of a building, the lowest level of that part of the building on which display is reasonably practicable.

Description

3B. An advertisement announcing the sale of goods or livestock, and displayed on the land where the goods or livestock are situated or where the sale is held, not being land which is normally used, whether at regular intervals or otherwise, for the purpose of holding such sales.

Conditions and Limitations

3B.-(1) (a) Not more than one such advertisement may be displayed at any one time on the land concerned.

(b)Where more than one such advertisement is displayed, the first to be displayed shall be taken to be the one permitted.

(2) No such advertisement may be displayed earlier than 28 days before the day (or first day) on which the sale is due to take place.

(3) Any such advertisement shall be removed within 14 days after the sale is completed.

(4) No such advertisement may exceed 1.2 square metres in area.

(5) Illumination is not permitted.

(6) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height, or 0.3 metre in an area of special control.

(7) No part of the advertisement may be more than 4.6 metres above ground level, or 3.6 metres in an area of special control.

Description

3C. An advertisement relating to the carrying out of building or similar work on the land on which it is displayed, not being land which is normally used, whether at regular intervals or otherwise, for the purposes of carrying out such work.

Conditions and Limitations

3C.-(1) (a) Not more than one such advertisement shall be displayed at any time, on each road frontage of the land, in respect of each separate development project, except in the case mentioned in paragraph (4) below.

(b)Where more than one such advertisement is displayed, the first to be displayed shall be taken to be the one permitted.

(2) No such advertisement may be displayed except while the relevant works are being carried out.

(3) No such advertisement may exceed in aggregate-�

(a)in the case of an advertisement referring to one person-�

(i)if the display is more than 10 metres from a highway, 3 square metres in area; or

(ii)in any other case, 2 square metres;

(b)in the case of an advertisement referring to more than one person-�

(i)if the display is more than 10 metres from a highway, 3 square metres plus 0.6 square metre for each additional person, or

(ii)in any other case, 2 square metres plus 0.4 square metre for each additional person,

together with 0.2 of the area permitted under sub-paragraph (a) or (b) above for the name, if any, of the development project.

(4) Where any such advertisement does not refer to any person carrying out such work, that person may display a separate advertisement with a maximum area of 0.5 square metre, which does so refer, on each frontage of the land for a maximum period of 3 months.

(5) Illumination is not permitted.

(6) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height, or 0.3 metre in an area of special control.

(7) No part of the advertisement may be more than 4.6 metres above ground level, or 3.6 metres in an area of special control.

Description

3D. An advertisement-�

(i)announcing any local event of a religious, educational, cultural, political, social or recreational character,

(ii)relating to any temporary matter in connection with an event or local activity of such a character,

not being an event or activity promoted or carried on for commercial purposes.

Conditions and Limitations

3D.-(1) No such advertisement may exceed 0.6 square metre in area.

(2) No such advertisement may be displayed earlier than 28 days before the day (or first day) on which the event is due to take place.

(3) Any such advertisement shall be removed within 14 days after the end of the event.

(4) Illumination is not permitted.

(5) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height, or 0.3 metre in an area of special control.

(6) No part of the advertisement may be more than 4.6 metres above ground level, or 3.6 metres in an area of special control.

Description

3E. An advertisement relating to any demonstration of agricultural methods or processes, on the land on which it is displayed.

Conditions and Limitations

3E.-(1) No such advertisement may be displayed for more than 6 months in any period of 12 months.

(2) The maximum area of display permitted in respect of each demonstration is 1.2 square metres.

(3) No single advertisement within such a display may exceed 0.4 square metre in area.

(4) No such advertisement may be displayed earlier than 28 days before the day (or first day) on which the demonstration is due to take place and shall be removed within 14 days after the end of the demonstration.

(5) Illumination is not permitted.

(6) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height, or 0.3 metre in an area of special control.

(7) No part of the advertisement may be more than 4.6 metres above ground level, or 3.6 metres in an area of special control.

Description

3F. An advertisement relating to the visit of a travelling circus, fair or similar travelling entertainment to any specified place in the district.

Conditions and Limitations

3F.-(1) No such advertisement may exceed 0.6 square metre in area.

(2) No such advertisement may be displayed earlier than 14 days before the first performance or opening of the entertainment at the place specified.

(3) Any such advertisement shall be removed within 7 days after the last performance or closing of the specified entertainment.

(4) At least 14 days before the advertisement is first displayed, the local planning authority are to be notified in writing of the first date on which, and of the site at which, it is to be displayed.

(5) Illumination is not permitted.

(6) No part of the advertisement may be more than 3.6 metres above ground level.

Class 4

Illuminated advertisements on business premises

Description

4A. An illuminated advertisement displayed on the frontage of premises within a retail park, which overlook or face on to a communal car park wholly bounded by the retail park, where the advertisement refers wholly to the business carried on, and the name and qualifications of the person carrying on a business from the premises.

Conditions and Limitations

4A.-(1) Subject to paragraph (11) below, no such advertisement is permitted within a conservation area, an area of outstanding natural beauty, a National Park, an area of special control or the Broads.

(2) In the case of a shop, no such advertisement may be displayed except on a wall containing a shop window.

(3) Not more than one such advertisement parallel to a wall and one projecting at right angles from such a wall is permitted, and in the case of any projecting advertisement-�

(a)no surface may be greater than 1 square metre in area;

(b)the advertisement may not project more than 1 metre from the wall; and

(c)it may not be more than 1.5 metres high.

(4) Each character of the advertisement but no part of the background is to be illuminated from within.

(5) No such advertisement may include any intermittent light source, moving feature, exposed cold cathode tubing, animation or reflective material.

(6) The luminance of any such advertisement may not exceed the limits specified in paragraph 3 of Part II of this Schedule.

(7) In the case of any advertisement consisting of a built-up box containing the light source, the distance between-�

(a)the face of the advertisement and any wall parallel to which it is displayed, at the point where it is affixed, or

(b)the two faces of an advertisement projecting from a wall,

may not exceed 0.25 metre.

(8) The lowest part of any such advertisement must be at least 2.5 metres above ground level.

(9) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height.

(10) No part of the advertisement may be higher above ground level than 4.6 metres or the bottom level of any first floor window in the wall on which the advertisement is displayed, whichever is the lower.

(11) Any such advertisement displayed on the date of designation of the relevant area, for the purposes of paragraph (1) above, may continue to be displayed for a period of 5 years from that date.

Description

4B. An illuminated advertisement, other than one falling within Class 4A, displayed on business premises wholly with reference to the business carried on and the name and qualifications of the person carrying on a business from those premises.

Conditions and Limitations

4B.-(1) Subject to paragraph (12) below, no such advertisement is permitted within a conservation area, an area of outstanding natural beauty, a National Park, an area of special control or the Broads.

(2) In the case of a shop, no such advertisement may be displayed except on a wall containing a shop window.

(3) Not more than one such advertisement parallel to a wall and one projecting at right angles from such a wall is permitted, and in the case of any projecting advertisement-�

(a)no surface may be greater than 0.75 square metre in area;

(b)the advertisement may not project more than 1 metre from the wall or two thirds of the width of any footway or pavement below, whichever is the less;

(c)it may not be more than 1 metre high; and

(d)it may not project over any carriageway.

(4) Each character of the advertisement but no part of the background is to be illuminated from within.

(5) No such advertisement may include any intermittent light source, moving feature, exposed cold cathode tubing, animation or reflective material.

(6) The luminance of any such advertisement may not exceed the limits specified in paragraph 3 of Part II of this Schedule.

(7) In the case of any such advertisement consisting of a built-up box containing the light source, the distance between-�

(a)the face of the advertisement and any wall parallel to which it is displayed, at the point where it is affixed, or

(b)the 2 faces of an advertisement projecting from a wall,

may not exceed 0.25 metre.

(8) The lowest part of any such advertisement shall be at least 2.5 metres above ground level.

(9) No surface of any advertisement may exceed one sixth of the frontage on which it is displayed, measured up to a height of 4.6 metres from ground level or 0.2 of the frontage measured to the top of the advertisement, whichever is the less.

(10) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height.

(11) No part of the advertisement may be higher above ground level than 4.6 metres or the bottom level of any first floor window in the wall on which the advertisement is displayed, whichever is the lower.

(12) Any such advertisement displayed on the date of designation of the relevant area, for the purposes of paragraph (1) above, may continue to be displayed for a period of 5 years from that date.

Class 5

Advertisements (other than illuminated advertisements) on business premises

Description

5. Any advertisement which does not fall within Class 4A or 4B displayed on business premises wholly with reference to the business carried on, the goods sold or services provided, and the name and qualifications of the person carrying on the business, or supplying the goods or services, on those premises.

Conditions and Limitations

5.-(1) In the case of a shop, no such advertisement may be displayed, except on a wall containing a shop window.

(2) In an area of special control, the space occupied by any such advertisement may not exceed 0.1 of the overall area of the face of the building on which it is displayed, up to a height of 3.6 metres from ground level; and the area occupied by any such advertisement shall, notwithstanding that it is displayed in some other manner, be calculated as if the whole advertisement were displayed flat against the face of the building.

(3) Illumination is not permitted.

(4) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height, or 0.3 metre in an area of special control.

(5) No part of the advertisement may be higher above ground level than whichever is the lower of-�

(a)4.6 metres, or 3.6 metres in an area of special control; or

(b)the bottom level of any first floor window in the wall on which the advertisement is displayed.

Class 6

An advertisement on a forecourt of business premises

Description

6. An advertisement displayed on any forecourt of business premises, wholly with reference to all or any of the matters specified in Class 5.

Conditions and Limitations

6.-(1) Advertisements displayed on any such forecourt or, in the case of a building with a forecourt on two or more frontages on each of those frontages, shall not exceed in aggregate 4.5 square metres in area.

(2) Illumination is not permitted.

(3) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height, or 0.3 metre in an area of special control.

(4) No part of the advertisement may be more than 4.6 metres above ground level, or 3.6 metres in an area of special control.

Class 7

Flag advertisements

Description

7. An advertisement in the form of a flag attached to a single flagstaff projecting vertically from the roof of a building.

Conditions and Limitations

7.-(1) No such advertisement is permitted other than one-�

(a)bearing the name or device of any person occupying the building; or

(b)referring to a specific event (other than the offering of named goods for sale) of limited duration, which is taking place in the building, for the duration of that event.

(2) No character or symbol on the flag may be more than 0.75 metre in height, or 0.3 metre in an area of special control.

Class 8

Advertisements on hoardings

Description

8. An advertisement on a hoarding which encloses, either wholly or in part, land on which building operations are taking place or are about to take place, if those operations are in accordance with a grant of planning permission (other than outline permission) for development primarily for use for commercial, industrial or business purposes.

Conditions and Limitations

8.-(1) Subject to paragraph (7) below, no such advertisement shall be displayed in a conservation area, an area of special control, a National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty or the Broads.

(2) No such advertisement may be displayed earlier than one month before the commencement of the building operations.

(3) Any such advertisement shall be at least 1.5 metres high and 1 metre long and not more than 3.1 metres high and 6.1 metres long.

(4) At least 14 days before the advertisement is first displayed, the local planning authority shall be notified in writing by the person displaying it of the date on which it will first be displayed and shall be sent a copy of the relevant planning permission.

(5) No such advertisement shall be displayed for more than 2 years.

(6) Illumination is permitted in a manner and to the extent reasonably required to achieve the purpose of the advertisement.

(7) Any such advertisement displayed on the date of designation of the relevant area, for the purposes of paragraph (1) above, may continue to be displayed for a period of 1 year from that date or 2 years from the date of commencement of the display, whichever is the later.

Class 9

Advertisements on highway structures

Description

9. An advertisement displayed on a part of an object or structure designed to accommodate four-sheet panel displays, the use of which for the display of such advertisements is authorised under section 115E(1)(a) of the Highways Act 1980(14).

Conditions and Limitations

9.-(1) No such advertisement may exceed 1.6 square metres in area.

(2) Illumination is not permitted.

(3) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height, or 0.3 metre in an area of special control.

(4) No part of the advertisement may be more than 4.6 metres above ground level, or 3.6 metres in an area of special control.

Class 10

Advertisements for neighbourhood watch and similar schemes

Description

10. An advertisement displayed on or near highway land (but not in the window of a building), to give notice that a neighbourhood watch scheme or a similar scheme established jointly by the police authority and a local committee or other body of persons is in operation in the area.

Conditions and Limitations

10.-(1) No such advertisement may exceed 0.2 square metre in area.

(2) No such advertisement may be displayed on highway land without the consent of the highway authority.

(3) The local planning authority shall, at least 14 days before the advertisement is first displayed, be given particulars in writing of the place at which it is to be displayed and a certificate-�

(a)that the scheme has been properly established;

(b)that the police authority have agreed to the display of the advertisement; and

(c)where relevant, that the consent of the highway authority has been given.

(4) Any such advertisement shall be removed within 14 days after-�

(a)the relevant scheme ceases to operate;

(b)the relevant scheme ceases to be approved by the police authority; or

(c)the highway authority withdraw their consent to its display.

(5) Illumination is not permitted.

(6) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.75 metre in height, or 0.3 metre in an area of special control.

(7) No part of the advertisement may be more than 3.6 metres above ground level.

Class 11

Directional advertisements

Description

11A. An advertisement on a single flat surface directing potential buyers and others to a site where residential development is taking place.

Conditions and Limitations

11A.-(1) No such advertisement may exceed 0.15 square metre in area.

(2) No part of the advertisement may be of a reflective material.

(3) The design of the advertisement may not be similar to that of a traffic sign.

(4) The advertisement is to be displayed on land adjacent to highway land, in a manner which makes it reasonably visible to an approaching driver, but not within 50 metres of a traffic sign intended to be observed by persons approaching from the same direction, or within 25 metres of a Class 11B advertisement.

(5) No advertisement may be more than two miles from the main entrance of the site.

(6) The local planning authority shall, at least 14 days before the advertisement is first displayed, be notified in writing of the place at which, and the first date on which, it will be displayed.

(7) No such advertisement may be displayed after the development of the site is completed or, in any event, for more than 2 years.

(8) Illumination is not permitted.

(9) Any character or symbol on the advertisement shall be at least 0.04 metre high.

(10) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.25 metre high.

(11) No part of the advertisement may be more than 4.6 metres above ground level, or 3.6 metres in an area of special control.

Description

11B. In the Ashford, Dover and Shepway experimental area, an advertisement displayed to direct visitors to the locality of a tourist attraction or a tourist facility.

Conditions and Limitations

11B.-(1) Any such advertisement is to consist of white characters or symbols on a brown background.

(2) No such advertisement may exceed 0.5 square metre in area.

(3) No part of any such advertisement may be of a reflective material or illuminated.

(4) Any such advertisement is to be displayed on land adjacent to a highway (but not on highway land), by which the specified tourist attraction or facility may be approached.

(5) Except for one advertisement which may be displayed at or immediately opposite the main entrance to the attraction or facility, any such advertisement is to be single-sided and displayed so as to be reasonably visible to a driver of a vehicle approaching it and may not be displayed-�

(a)within 50 metres of an existing traffic sign, if it faces in the same direction as that traffic sign;

(b)within 25 metres of an existing directional advertisement for any tourist attraction or facility;

(c)if there is already an existing directional advertisement for the specified tourist attraction or facility, on the same approach route to that attraction or facility; and

(d)outside a radius of 2 miles from the main entrance to that attraction or facility.

(6) The advertiser shall, not later than 21 days before the date on which it is first displayed-�

(a)notify the local planning authority in writing of the date on which the advertisement will be displayed, the precise location of the advertisement, and the tourist attraction or facility specified; and

(b)provide the local planning authority, by means of a scale drawing, or a plan, or a coloured photograph, with a description from which the advertisement may be readily identified.

(7) Any character or symbol on the advertisement shall be at least 0.04 metre high.

(8) No character or symbol on the advertisement may be more than 0.25 metre high.

(9) No part of the advertisement may be more than 4.6 metres above ground level, or 3.6 metres in an area of special control.

Class 12

Advertisements inside buildings

Description

12. An advertisement displayed inside a building which does not fall within Class J in Schedule 2.

Class 13

Sites used for the display of advertisements on 1st April 1974

Description

13. An advertisement displayed on a site which was used for the display of advertisements without express consent on 1st April 1974 and has been so used continually since that date.

Conditions and Limitations

13.-(1) No substantial increase in the extent, or substantial alteration in the manner, of the use of the site for the display of advertisements on 1st April 1974 is permitted.

(2) If any building or structure on which such an advertisement is displayed is required by any enactment to be removed, no erection of any building or structure to continue the display is permitted.

Class 14

Advertisements displayed after expiry of express consent

Description

14. An advertisement displayed with express consent, after the expiry of that consent, unless-�

(a)a condition to the contrary was imposed on the consent, or

(b)a renewal of consent was applied for and refused.

Conditions and Limitations

14.-(1) Any condition imposed on the relevant express consent is to continue to apply to any such advertisement.

(2) No advertisement may be displayed under this class except on a site which has been continually used for the purpose since the expiry of the express consent.

PART IIinterpretation

1.-(1) In Part I of this Schedule-�

(1) "business premises" means any building or part of a building normally used for the purpose of any professional, commercial or industrial undertaking, or for providing services to members of the public or of any association, and includes a public restaurant, licensed premises and a place of public entertainment, but not-�

(a)a building used as an institution of a religious, educational, cultural, recreational, or medical or similar character;

(b)a building designed for use as one or more separate dwellings, unless it was normally used, immediately before 1st September 1949, for any such purpose or has been adapted for use for any such purpose by the construction of a shop front or the making of a material alteration of a similar kind to its external appearance;

(c)any forecourt or other land forming part of the curtilage of a building;

(d)any fence, wall or similar screen or structure, unless it forms part of the fabric of a building;

• "existing directional advertisement" does not include any advertisement displayed without express or deemed consent;

• "forecourt" includes any fence, wall or similar screen or structure enclosing a forecourt and not forming part of the fabric of a building constituting business premises;

• "ground level", in relation to the display of advertisements on any building, means the ground-floor level of that building;

• "joined boards" means boards joined at an angle, so that only one surface of each is usable for advertising;

• "public transport undertaking" means an undertaking engaged in the carriage of passengers in a manner similar to that of a statutory undertaking;

• "retail park" means a group of 3 or more retail stores, at least one of which has a minimum internal floor area of 1,000 square metres and which-�

  (a)

  are set apart from existing shopping centres but within an existing or proposed urban area;

  (b)

  sell primarily goods other than food;

  (c)

  share one or more communal car parks.

• "traffic sign" means a sign falling within Class H of Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

(2) Where a maximum area is specified, in relation to any class in this Schedule, in the case of a double-sided board, the area of one side only shall be taken into account.

2. For the purposes of assessing the effect on amenity and public safety of advertisements falling within the description in Class 11B, an area comprising the borough of Ashford, and the districts of Dover and Shepway is defined as the Ashford Dover and Shepway experimental area for a period of 2 years beginning on 1st July 1987.

3.-(1) The permitted limits of luminance for advertisements falling within Class 4A or 4B are, subject to sub-paragraph (2), for an illuminated area measuring not more than-�

(a)0.5 square metre, 1,000 candela,

(b)2 square metres, 800 candela,

(c)10 square metres, 600 candela,

and for any greater area, 400 candela.

(2) For the purposes of calculating the relevant area for the permitted limits-�

(a)each advertisement, or in the case of a double-sided projecting advertisement, each side of the advertisement is to be taken separately;

(b)no unilluminated part of the advertisement is to be taken into account.

Regulation 15

SCHEDULE 4APPEALS TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE

PART Imodifications of the act (applications for express consent)

1. In section 36 of the Act-�

(a)in subsection (1), for the words from "for planning permission" to "permission, consent, agreement or approval," substitute "for express consent under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1989 and";

(b)for subsection (2), substitute the following subsections:-�

"(2) Notice of appeal shall be given in writing to the Secretary of State within 8 weeks from the date of receipt of notification of the local planning authority's decision, or such longer period as the Secretary of State may at any time allow, and the notice shall be accompanied by a copy of each of the following documents:-�

(a)the application made to the local planning authority;

(b)all relevant plans and particulars submitted to them;

(c)the notice of decision; and

(d)all other relevant correspondence with the authority.

(2A) Where an appeal is brought under this section, the Secretary of State may require the applicant or the local planning authority to submit to him, within such period as he may specify, a statement in writing in respect of such matters relating to the application as he may specify, and if, after considering the grounds of appeal and any such statement, the Secretary of State is satisfied that he has sufficient information to enable him to determine the appeal he may, with the agreement in writing of both the applicant and the local planning authority, determine the appeal without complying with subsection (4) of this section.";

(c)after subsection (3), insert-�

"(3A) The Secretary of State may, in granting an express consent, specify that the term thereof shall run for such longer or shorter period than five years as he considers expedient, having regard to regulation 4 of the Regulations and to any period specified in the application for consent.";

(d)subsection (5) shall be omitted;

(e)at the end of subsection (6), add the words "and shall otherwise have effect as if it were a decision of the local planning authority";

(f)in subsection (7), for the words from "in respect of an application for planning permission" to "planning permission for that development", substitute the words "in respect of an application for express consent under the Regulations, the Secretary of State forms the opinion that, having regard to the Regulations and to any direction given under them, consent".

2. In section 37-�

(a)for the words from the beginning to "order" in the first place where it appears, substitute "Where any such application as is mentioned in section 36(1) of this Act (as applied and modified by the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1989) is made to a local planning authority then, unless within the period of 8 weeks from the date when the application was received by the local planning authority";

(b)for the words from "either" to "section 35 of this Act" substitute "give notice to the applicant of their decision on the application";

(c)for the words "permission or approval", substitute "consent";

(d)after the words "of this Act" insert "(as so modified)"; and

(e)for the words "at the end of the period prescribed by the development order" substitute "at the end of the period referred to above".

PART IIsections 36 and 37 of the act as modified (applications for express consent)

"36.-(1) Where an application is made to a local planning authority for express consent under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1989 and is refused by that authority or granted by them subject to conditions, the applicant, if he is aggrieved by their decision, may by notice under this section appeal to the Secretary of State.

(2) Notice of appeal shall be given in writing to the Secretary of State within 8 weeks from the date of receipt of notification of the local planning authority's decision, or such longer period as the Secretary of State may at any time allow, and the notice shall be accompanied by a copy of each of the following documents:-�

(a)the application made to the local planning authority;

(b)all relevant plans and particulars submitted to them;

(c)the notice of decision; and

(d)all other relevant correspondence with the authority.

(2A) Where an appeal is brought under this section, the Secretary of State may require the applicant or the local planning authority to submit to him, within such period as he may specify, a statement in writing in respect of such matters relating to the application as he may specify; and if, after considering the grounds of appeal and any such statement, the Secretary of State is satisfied that he has sufficient information to enable him to determine the appeal he may, with the agreement in writing of both the applicant and the local planning authority, determine the appeal without complying with subsection (4) of this section.

(3) Where an appeal is brought under this section from a decision of a local planning authority, the Secretary of State, subject to the following provisions of this section, may allow or dismiss the appeal, or may reverse or vary part of the decision of the local planning authority, whether the appeal relates to that part thereof or not, and may deal with the application as if it had been made to him in the first instance.

(3A) The Secretary of State may, in granting an express consent, specify that the term thereof shall run for such longer or shorter period than five years as he considers expedient having regard to regulation 4 of the Regulations and any period specified in the application for consent.

(4) Before determining an appeal under this section, other than an appeal referred to a Planning Inquiry Commission under section 48 of this Act, the Secretary of State shall, if either the applicant or the local planning authority so desire, afford to each of them an opportunity of appearing before, and being heard by, a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose.

(6) The decision of the Secretary of State on any appeal under this section shall be final and shall otherwise have effect as if it were a decision of the local planning authority.

(7) If, before or during the determination of an appeal under this section in respect of an application for express consent under the Regulations, the Secretary of State forms the opinion that, having regard to the Regulations and to any direction given under them, consent could not have been granted by the local planning authority or could not have been granted by them otherwise than subject to the conditions imposed by them, he may decline to determine the appeal or to proceed with the determination of it.

(8) Schedule 9 to this Act applies to appeals under this section, including appeals under this section as applied by or under any provision of this Act.

37. Where any such application as is mentioned in section 36(1) of this Act (as applied and modified by the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1989) is made to a local planning authority then, unless within the period of 8 weeks from the date when the application was received by the local planning authority, or within such extended period as may at any time be agreed upon in writing between the applicant and the local planning authority, the local planning authority give notice to the applicant of their decision on the application, the provisions of section 36 of this Act (as so modified) shall apply in relation to the application as if the consent to which it relates had been refused by the local planning authority, and as if notification of their decision had been received by the applicant at the end of the period referred to above, or at the end of the said extended period, as the case may be."

PART IIImodifications of the act (discontinuance notices)

1. In section 36 for subsections (1) and (2) substitute-�

"(1) Where a discontinuance notice has been served on any person by a local planning authority under regulation 8 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1989 that person may, if he is aggrieved by the notice, appeal by notice under this section to the Secretary of State.

(2) Notice of appeal shall be given in writing to the Secretary of State at any time before the date on which the discontinuance notice is due to take effect under regulation 8(3) taking account, where appropriate, of any extension of time under regulation 8(5) of the 1989 Regulations, or such longer period as the Secretary of State may allow, and the notice shall be accompanied by a copy of each of the following documents:-�

(a)the discontinuance notice;

(b)any notice of variation thereof; and

(c)any relevant correspondence with the authority.

(2A) Where an appeal is brought under this section, as applied by regulation 15(3) of the 1989 Regulations, the Secretary of State may require the appellant or the local planning authority to submit to him, within such period as he may specify, a statement in writing in respect of such matters relating to the discontinuance notice as he may specify and if, after considering the grounds of appeal and any such statement, the Secretary of State is satisfied that he has sufficient information to enable him to determine the appeal, he may, with the agreement in writing of both the appellant and the local planning authority, determine the appeal without complying with subsection (4) of this section.".

2. In subsection (3)-�

(i)omit the words "from a decision of a local planning authority";

(ii)for the words, "any part of the decision," substitute "any part of the discontinuance notice"; and

(iii)for the words "may deal with the application as if it has been made to him in the first instance.", substitute "may deal with the matter as if an application for express consent had been made and refused for the reasons stated for the taking of discontinuance action.".

3. For subsection (5), substitute-�

"(5) On the determination of an appeal under this section, as applied by regulation 15(3) of the 1989 Regulations, the Secretary of State shall give such directions as may be necessary for giving effect to his determination, including, where appropriate, directions for quashing the discontinuance notice or for varying its terms in favour of the appellant.".

4. Subsection (7) shall be omitted.

Regulation 18

SCHEDULE 5AREA OF SPECIAL CONTROL ORDERS

PART Iprocedure for area of special control orders

1. A local planning authority who propose-�

(a)to designate an area of special control; or

(b)to modify an area of special control order,

shall make an area of special control order designating the area or indicating the modifications by reference to an annexed map.

2. If an area of special control order contains any descriptive matter relating to the area or the modifications in question, that descriptive matter shall prevail, in the case of any discrepancy with the map, unless the order provides to the contrary.

3. As soon as may be after the making of an area of special control order, the authority shall submit it to the Secretary of State for approval, together with-�

(a)two certified copies of the order;

(b)a full statement of their reasons for making it;

(c)in the case of an order modifying an existing order, unless the boundaries of the existing area of special control are indicated on the map annexed to the order, a plan showing both these boundaries and the proposed modifications; and

(d)any additional certified copy of any of the material in subparagraphs (a) to (c) above, which the Secretary of State requires.

4. The authority shall forthwith publish in the London Gazette, and in two successive weeks in at least one newspaper circulating in the locality, a notice in prescribed Form 1.

5. If any objection is made to an order, in the manner and within the time provided for in the prescribed form, the Secretary of State-�

(a)may offer all interested parties an opportunity to make representations to him in writing about any such operation, before such date as he may specify;

(b)may, and at the request of any interested party shall, either provide for a local inquiry to be held or afford to the parties an opportunity of a hearing before a person appointed by him.

6. After considering any representations or objections duly made and not withdrawn and, where applicable, the report of any person holding an inquiry or hearing, the Secretary of State may, subject to paragraph 7 below, approve the order with or without modifications.

7. If the Secretary of State proposes to make a modification for the inclusion of additional land in an order, he shall-�

(a)publish notice of his intention to do so;

(b)afford an opportunity for the making of objections to, or representations about, the proposed modification; and

(c)if he considers it expedient, provide for a further inquiry or hearing to be held.

8. As soon as may be after the order has been approved, the local planning authority shall publish in the London Gazette, and in two successive weeks in at least one newspaper circulating in the locality, a notice of its approval in prescribed Form 2.

9. An area of special control order shall come into force on the date on which the notice of its approval is published in the London Gazette.

10. Where a local planning authority propose to make an order revoking an area of special control order, a map showing the existing area shall be annexed to the order, and the procedure prescribed in paragraphs 2 to 9 of this Schedule in relation to an order modifying an existing order shall be followed, subject to the modification that the prescribed forms of notice under paragraphs 4 and 8 respectively are prescribed Forms 3 and 4.

11. Any reference in this Part of this Schedule to a prescribed form is to the form bearing that number in Part II of this Schedule or a form substantially to the like effect.

PART IIFORMS OF NOTICE

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations consolidate with amendments the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1984 and subsequent amending instruments.

The main provisions of the Regulations, which apply in England and Wales, concern the control by local planning authorities of the display of outdoor advertisements. Specified classes of advertisements are excluded from the Regulations and others may be displayed with deemed consent, subject to conditions and limitations and the power of local planning authorities to serve discontinuance notices (Part II). Applications to the local planning authority for express consent and the granting of consent subject to conditions are provided for, as are appeals to the Secretary of State where consent is refused or granted conditionally, and the revocation or modification of express consent (Part III). Part IV deals with the designation of areas of special control and Parts I and V with general and miscellaneous provisions.

The main changes made by the Regulations are-�

(a)modification of the powers of the Secretary of State in directing that, in a specified case or class of case, advertisements should not be displayed without express consent (regulation 7);

(b)revision of the criteria on which a local planning authority may serve a discontinuance notice withdrawing deemed consent under Schedule 3 (regulation 8);

(c)clarification of the powers of a local planning authority to grant consent for part only of an application, with or without conditions (regulation 13);

(d)the introduction of two new classes of illuminated advertisement with deemed consent (Classes 4A and 4B in Schedule 3);

(e)other minor modifications to the Classes of advertisement with deemed consent (regulation 6 and Schedule 3);

(f)introduction of a power for an objection to an area of special control order to be dealt with by written representations, instead of a hearing, if the parties agree (Schedule 5, paragraph 5).