Wandsworth Council's Planning Applications Committee has rejected a proposal to install new digital LED advertisement displays at Wandsworth Roundabout, citing concerns over visual intrusion, light pollution, and road safety.
The committee considered an application to replace existing advertising structures with a new timber lattice structure supporting four larger digital screens. The current advertising structures, built in the 1990s, feature a square digital display of four screens, elevated within a tall tubular steel structure of two interlocking circles and supported by four legs. The existing screens measure 4m in height and 14m in width, located 14m above ground level.
The proposed digital LED advertisement displays were described as having a length of 14.2m and a height of 4.6m. The applicant stated that the adverts would be statically internally illuminated with variable brightness, set to 160 cd/m² at nighttime and 560 cd/m² during low light level evening hours. However, the Environmental Health Officer suggested a condition to limit the display luminance to a maximum of 300 cd/m² during hours of darkness, 600 cd/m² during dawn and dusk periods, and at all other times to not exceed recommended maximum daytime luminance values.
The proposal faced significant opposition from local residents, who cited concerns about visual intrusion, increased light pollution, and potential road safety risks due to driver distraction. Transport for London also raised objections, highlighting similar concerns about driver distraction and increased road safety risks.
Despite the applicant's proposal, which included amendments such as reducing the height of the Eastern and Western facing advertising screens by 1 metre and adding two additional bird boxes, the committee voted against the recommendation to approve the application. Transport for London confirmed that their road safety concerns could be addressed within a suitably worded condition.
The reasons for refusal included the visual intrusiveness of the proposed structure, its scale, design, and the perceived cluttered nature of the display. Councillor Cooper noted that the proposal seems to contravene a number of policies in the London Plan, the Mayor's Vision Zero ambition.
Specifically, policies cited were LP1, LP2, LP9, and policies D3 and D4 of the London Plan in relation to visual intrusiveness and clutter. Policy T4 and the Mayor's Vision Zero ambition were cited concerning driver distraction and road safety risks.
This decision was made following consideration of the application detailed in the public reports pack for the Planning Applications Committee meeting on 17th September 2026. Public reports pack
