for happier, healthier cities
Summary: Adblock campaigners have been successful in preventing the total removal from the planning system of a key concept regarding the “cumulative impacts” of outdoor advertising sites. The concept will be moved to the Planning Practice Guidance on Advertisements when it is next updated. The UK government has published its revision of the National Planning…Continue reading Holding the line – a partial win in the National Planning Policy Framework, August 2026
The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 changes the way planning applications for new advertising spaces are decided in England. Unless we act now, these decisions might in the future be made only by planning officers, meaning no democratic oversight by elected councillors and less opportunity for local people to raise objections. The Planning and Infrastructure…Continue reading Who decides? New rules for outdoor advertising planning applications
By Rowan Hanson-Iles If you live anywhere remotely urban, you will have seen the explosion in popularity of murals and street art. Large mural commissions are now commonplace on our streets and artists compete for placements at dedicated street art festivals. A sudden spawning of murals on building hoardings can even be a precursor to…Continue reading Public space is for play. Cars and ads can go away
An application for a large digital billboard on Muller Road, Bristol, has been refused. (Bristol planning application number: 26/12005/A) A big thank you to everyone who objected via the council’s online portal and shared it around. There were at least 41 formal objections from residents. One less advertising hoarding is always a win for Adblock…Continue reading Billboard? More like nilboard! A win from Bristol
A YouGov poll commissioned by Adfree Cities found that a rather shocking proportion of drivers don’t agree with the statement that “SUVs and pickups are more dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists”. To be clear, they definitely are. Research has shown that pedestrians and cyclists are 44% more likely to be killed if struck by an SUV, rising to 82% for children….Continue reading How advertising blinds drivers to SUV risks
A new study has found a correlation between billboard advertising and liver disease. In the study, led by St James’s University Hospital, Leeds, researchers found a correlation between the placement of advertising billboards promoting alcohol and unhealthy food with hospital admissions for liver disease. According to the new research, patients admitted to hospital with serious…Continue reading New study links billboard ads with liver disease