Banners, projections and building materials

Promotional banner licence

You need to get permission from the council before fixing or placing banners adjacent to the highway. Fixing banners to trees or street furniture is also not allowed.

Charitable organisations can apply for a licence to place a banner adjacent to the highway. This service is provided free of charge.

The purpose of banners is to provide publicity for local charitable, cultural and educational events. Promotion of these events and activities should be appropriate and with minimal environmental impact. Consent will not be given to banners containing direct commercial or sponsorship advertising.


Applying for a banner to be erected adjacent to the highway

You can make an application by submitting an Application form to place banners over the highway (PDF) [66KB] to the applications admin team on  utilityapplicationsadmin@hillingdon.gov.uk

Applications must be made at least 15 working days in advance and each application must include the following essential information:

  • proposed location of banner
  • dates required (commencement of installation to complete removal)
  • diagram of banner including size dimensions and lettering
  • contact person (24 hours), contact number (fixed and mobile), email and postal address
  • evidence of appropriate Public Liability Insurance

What happens next

Each application will be judged on its own merits depending on its location and size. We cannot provide standard size dimensions. If further information is required, please contact utilities@hillingdon.gov.uk

The following rules and restrictions apply to applications.

  • Permission will only be given to non-commercial organisations, such as charities.
  • Permission is given for up to 3 weeks at any one time.
  • Banners should not be placed within 15 metres of a junction or pedestrian crossing, or on a roundabout.
  • Banners must not impede sight lines on the public highway.
  • Only two organisations can erect a banner in any one location.

The council has approved locations for the erection of banners:

  • Maxwell Road/Green Lane
  • Rickmansworth Road/Green Lane
  • Rickmansworth Road/Ducks Hill Lane

Any other location on public highway land will need to be considered by the utilities team. This can take longer than usual as the site needs to be approved first.

The licence bearers will be responsible for the installation, maintenance and removal of banners within the agreed timescales. Failure to remove banners may incur costs to the organisation. The relevant legislation may be found in the Highways Act 1980, section 178.

There may be circumstances in which the council might refuse to give consent. If this happens, the reasons for refusal will be made clear. Applicants can appeal to a magistrates' court, either against the refusal or against the terms and conditions required by the authority.

Page last updated: 21 Apr 2023