Lambeth Council sides with advertising company against residents battling to stop huge digital screen

Lambeth residents were shocked to learn last week that a planning application for a giant digital advertising screen has been given the go-ahead metres from their living room window.

The billboard company, Wildstone, were originally granted permission in 2019 to transform the existing paper billboard into a digital screen, before any tenants had moved into the newly built flats at 666 Streatham High Road.

This planning permission expired in September this year and residents were delighted that their case against the development was finally going to be heard.

But despite the Lambeth Local Plan clearly stating that in order to enhance the environment “proposals for the renewal of advertisement consents for existing large panel advertisements will generally be resisted”, and 26 objections from local residents including all of the residents who will have to live beside the screen, the Wildstone application to renew planning permission for the digital screen was granted on December 5th.

Adblock Lambeth, who have been working with the residents in recent years, know of no similar cases since the 2021 Lambeth Local Plan was introduced where permission has been granted for a digital screen against the wishes of residents.

Residents’ objections to the application clearly stated the impact a digital screen would have on their quality of life, shining directly into their living rooms, but Lambeth Council’s report dismissed their concerns because there are “no bedrooms within the front rooms of the building which would be directly affected by the nighttime illumination sign”.

“By stating the screen can go ahead because there are no bedrooms at the front of the building, the Council are admitting that the screen lighting would be sufficient to disturb sleep.

Clearly then, it will be a major disturbance to all of us residents when we are awake.

The council seem to place more value on Wildstone’s profits than allowing us to peacefully enjoy our living rooms and kitchens”.

Adblock Lambeth coordinator, Christopher Scott said:

“The residents at 666 Streatham High Road have been treated scandalously by Lambeth Council for years.

After rebuffing the residents’ attempts to have the planning permission revoked following the clear change in circumstances when they moved into the new flats, the Council have now, in clear contradiction to their own policy, re-affirmed Wildstone’s right to barrage these Lambeth residents with digital images metres from their living room windows.

Lambeth Council had the chance to do the right thing here and they have failed miserably.

“Adblock Lambeth will be continuing to support the residents of 666 Streatham High Street who are determined to keep up their fight against this clear travesty of justice”.

About Adblock

Adblock Lambeth is a group of local residents who cherish our communities and want to protect them, so we oppose corporate advertising which harms body image, equality in representation, local business and the environment.

We fight for happier and healthier cities. We dream of urban environments which celebrate all the people living in them and are committed to make our neighbourhoods more independent, creative and welcoming.

We are seeking alternatives beyond consumerism: we celebrate community connection, solidarity, public art and nature.