estate agent boards - have your say
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Estate agent boards - have your say
Your views please on whether we need further restrictions
Estate agent ‘for sale or ‘to let’ boards on posts fixed to gateposts or railings are an all too common sight on our streets.
Even in small numbers they can detract from views of the sea or of Regency houses with their curved fronts, railings, and balconies. They also make a big impact in streets where there are a lot of flats because of the large numbers of boards involved.
Some people don’t mind them, and view them as a commercial necessity. Others feel they are no longer necessary or are visually intrusive – and should be removed or improved upon.
The council’s environment committee believes that our conservation areas would look better if there were additional planning restrictions over estate agents boards - particularly in the higher density central residential areas.
Limited controls
There is currently only limited planning control over the display of for sale / to let boards in residential streets. But the local association of estate agents asks its members to restrict boards to just one per property.
In the city’s finest formal historic streets and squares – such as Brunswick Square and Lewes Crescent - there is already a ban on the fixing of ‘for sale’ flag boards to boundary walls or area railings.
The council, local residents and estate agents all agree that this ban has improved the appearance of these streets. The council is now looking to extend the controls to other residential areas of architectural or historic interest.
And we want to know what you think.
Please write to Roger Dowty, Design and Conservation Manager, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove BN3 3BQ. Or email conservation@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
Points of view
Here are three points of view. If you wish, you can simply agree or disagree with one of them rather than sending us a long letter:
- The Association of Estate Agents’ existing voluntary code, which permits just one board per property works fine and should remain
- boards should be banned in all conservation areas
- tighter controls are needed in particular streets or neighbourhoods (please name them)
Responses have to be returned by the end of February.
See here for more information about the work of our design and conservation team.