Nottingham City Council has agreed to seek government approval to reintroduce restrictions on letting boards across nine neighbourhoods, after a surge in complaints about visual clutter and neighbourhood decline since previous controls lapsed last year.
Areas considered are Hyson Green and Arboretum, Lenton and Wollaton East, Radford and St Ann’s.
At a meeting on 25 September, councillors signed off on a proposal to the Secretary of State to apply Regulation 7 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007, which removes “deemed consent” for letting boards in specified areas.
If approved, landlords and letting agents will once again need express planning consent before putting up boards.
The move follows the expiry of earlier restrictions in February 2023, which had been in place since 2012 and renewed in 2018.
Council officers say their lapse – due to resourcing pressures and a review of necessity – has led to a marked return of letting boards in parts of the city with high concentrations of HMOs and student housing, notably in Lenton, Radford, Hyson Green and the Arboretum, and St Ann’s.
“The controls proved highly effective before, significantly reducing visual clutter and improving neighbourhood amenity,” the council’s decision notice stated. “Since the restrictions lapsed, there has been a marked increase in boards, prompting complaints from residents, councillors, and community groups.”
A citywide consultation held in April and May 2025 drew an “overwhelmingly supportive” response, with 94% of participants in favour of reinstating the restrictions. Local residents, universities, councillors, MPs, police and student bodies were all invited to take part.
The council highlighted concerns that letting boards can act as visual markers of transient or vacant housing, particularly student properties, which in turn can attract burglary, vandalism and anti-social behaviour. Nottinghamshire Police supported the reintroduction, saying earlier restrictions had helped improve neighbourhood safety.
Officials acknowledged there is a risk some landlords may ignore the rules if reintroduced, undermining public confidence. To counter this, the council said it will work closely with Community Protection and Planning Enforcement teams to ensure “robust, proactive enforcement from the outset.”
The report confirmed the policy change will not carry additional costs, with any enforcement absorbed within existing budgets. Property advisers also confirmed the restrictions will not affect the council’s own estate or commercial portfolio.
The Secretary of State must now consider the application before any Regulation 7 Direction can take effect. If approved, the ban will once again cover the previously restricted areas, with a small boundary extension.
