Supplementary Planning documents and other guidance

Control of Estate Agent Boards Early Stakeholder Consultation

Application for a Regulation 7 Direction for the Control of Estate Agent Boards

The Town & Country Planning (Advertisements)(England) Regulations 2007 allows some forms of advertisement to be displayed without the consent of the Council. This is known as deemed consent and is subject to certain conditions as set out in the Regulations (Schedule 3, Part 1).

The Regulations also allow the Council to make an application to the Secretary of State to remove deemed consent for types of advertisement where it can be demonstrated these are having a negative impact on safety or amenity grounds in the local area. This is known as a Regulation 7 Direction and if made by the Secretary of State, the Council will have the power to determine applications themselves for the type of advertisements where deemed consent has been removed.

In recent years, the Council has received a growing number of complaints regarding Estate Agent boards, in particular residential lettings boards rather than ‘For Sale’ or ‘Sold’ boards.  Estate Agent boards are a type of advertisement where the Secretary of State can make a Regulation 7 Direction and remove deemed consent.

The Council has been collating background evidence on the number and locations of complaints received with respect to Estate Agent boards as well as undertaking street surveys. The evidence indicates an issue in the area of Englefield Green and in Egham, west of the M25. A map of the area concerned and the background evidence is set out below.

The Council considers that there is sufficient evidence to make an application to the Secretary of State for a Regulation 7 Direction to remove deemed consent for Estate Agent boards in this area, with respect to residential lettings boards only not for ‘For Sale’ or ‘Sold’ boards. This does not mean these types of advertisements will be banned, just that the Council will have control over whether they can be displayed following a formal application process.

Before making an application, the Council would like to hear your views on this matter. In particular we would like to hear your views on whether you support or object to a Regulation 7 Direction, your reasons for support or objection and any comments you may have on the extent of the area to which the Direction is proposed to apply.

You can make your views known by writing to the Council either by email to planningpolicy@runnymede.gov.uk or to the following address:

Planning Policy Team
Runnymede Borough Council
Civic Centre
Station Road
Addlestone
Surrey
KT15 2AH

Comments should be submitted to the Council no later than Friday 17 July 2026. Any comments received cannot be treated as confidential and comments or a summary of them will be published on the Council’s website, however personal information will not be published.