General info based on our experience. For your specific site, always check with the council and CDM coordinator.
Construction site banners in London usually need a hoarding licence, must carry CDM 2015 safety signage, and scaffold wraps must be mesh. Pavement A frames need a pavement licence, councils refuse political or driver distracting imagery.
1. Hoarding Planning Permission
Most London hoardings require hoarding licences from the relevant borough:
- Hoarding must be at least 2.4m tall
- Banners attached must be approved
- Content must be "neat and tidy"
- Driver-distracting content refused
2. Safety Signage (CDM 2015)
Sites must display:
- Site safety sign, PPE, no unauthorised entry
- Principal Contractor details (F10)
- CDM coordinator contact
- Emergency contact numbers
3. Pavement Licence
A-frame signs need a pavement licence. Without one: £100–£500 fine.
An unapproved banner on a London hoarding is not free advertising. It is a fine waiting for the enforcement officer to spot it.
4. Scaffold Wrap
- Must use mesh banners
- Must not obscure safety signage
- Requires approval from building owner + council
5. Content Restrictions
Councils refuse:
- Political content
- Distracting imagery
- Unrelated advertising
- Certain imagery near schools
Typical Banner Specs
- Material: Mesh for scaffolding, PVC 510 GSM for hoarding
- Sizes: 5ft × 3ft standard panels; 5ft × 5ft for large scaffold
- Life: Match project duration, 18 month project = mesh
Mesh vs PVC on a London site
Mesh lets wind pass through scaffolding, PVC does not and can load the structure. Check the wind loading report before you specify the material.
Scaffold wrap in solid PVC on a windy London site is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Specify mesh, every time.
What to send us for a quote
Site address, hoarding or scaffold dimensions, project duration, and any council approvals already in place. We turn around a quote within the hour.
Contractor accounts available. Call 020 3669 9854.
