Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of (a) digital advertising screens, (b) digital telecommunications hubs and (c) other digital street infrastructure on (i) street clutter and (ii) pedestrian accessibility in urban areas; and whether his Department plans to issue updated guidance to local planning authorities on managing the cumulative impact of such installations on (A) public spaces and (B) the streetscape.

The advertisement control regime seeks to control the impact of advertisements by reference to their effect on amenity and public safety. Responsibility for the application of the legislation rests with local planning authorities and they are best placed to consider the impact of specific advertisements.

My Department has not made any assessment of the impact of digital advertising screens and we have no current plans to issue guidance to local planning authorities on the cumulative impact of such installations.