A council is looking to ban house "for sale" signs amid complaints they cause "substantial harm to local character".
Westminster City Council claimed the signs are no longer necessary due to the rise in house hunting conducted online.
The Labour-led authority already requires estate agents to seek permission to put up a sign in protected areas.
However, it now wants to extend this rule across the whole area to avoid a two-tier system.
Experts have slammed the decision, accusing the council of being 'nimbys' a derogatory term aimed at those who oppose new developments.
Head of planning and market insight at the National Federation of Builders (NFB) Rico Wojtulewicz said: "It is time to call out Westminster Council as Nimby’s on this issue.
"They have not sought any ‘in character’ solution, and cite climate change as a concern, but their proposal will see increased energy use, more waste and reduced re-useable materials.
"Their whole premise will curtail local businesses by increasing all their costs, and consequently giving a leg up to big companies."
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According to the Office for National Statistics, the average house price in Westminster is £960,000. Under Article Seven of the Town and Country Planning Regulations of 2007, Westminster Council already has a ban on "for sale" signs in some conservation areas.
However, in order to extend the ban, the council needs permission from Housing Secretary Angela Rayner.
Wojtulewicz called on Rayner to reject the application, should it reach her. He added that the decision "will be a litmus test of whether Labour is serious about growth because it understands the damaging nature of decision-making on the long tail of business".
He added that the ban will disproportionately harm smaller businesses, pushing up their costs and helping larger businesses gain ground.
Property developer and landlord at The Kushman Group Kundan Bhaduri said: "These signs remain an important, time-tested tool in the property market.
"The digital shift is undeniable, but not all buyers rely solely on online platforms. For many, seeing a sign outside a property feels more tangible and prompts spontaneous enquiries. Will it harm business? Potentially, especially for smaller agencies that rely on local visibility."
A spokesman from the council told GB News: "The council is looking to extend its efforts to ban these boards across the city.
"Everyone will have walked down roads with dozens of outdated and unsightly estate agent boards littering front gardens and porches.
"Powers to ban new boards helps us protect the look and feel of our city and encourage firms to move to environmentally friendly, digital forms of advertising."
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Westminster City Council claimed the signs are no longer necessary due to the rise in house hunting conducted online.
The Labour-led authority already requires estate agents to seek permission to put up a sign in protected areas.
However, it now wants to extend this rule across the whole area to avoid a two-tier system.
Experts have slammed the decision, accusing the council of being 'nimbys' a derogatory term aimed at those who oppose new developments.
Head of planning and market insight at the National Federation of Builders (NFB) Rico Wojtulewicz said: "It is time to call out Westminster Council as Nimby’s on this issue.
"They have not sought any ‘in character’ solution, and cite climate change as a concern, but their proposal will see increased energy use, more waste and reduced re-useable materials.
"Their whole premise will curtail local businesses by increasing all their costs, and consequently giving a leg up to big companies."
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According to the Office for National Statistics, the average house price in Westminster is £960,000. Under Article Seven of the Town and Country Planning Regulations of 2007, Westminster Council already has a ban on "for sale" signs in some conservation areas.
However, in order to extend the ban, the council needs permission from Housing Secretary Angela Rayner.
Wojtulewicz called on Rayner to reject the application, should it reach her. He added that the decision "will be a litmus test of whether Labour is serious about growth because it understands the damaging nature of decision-making on the long tail of business".
He added that the ban will disproportionately harm smaller businesses, pushing up their costs and helping larger businesses gain ground.
Property developer and landlord at The Kushman Group Kundan Bhaduri said: "These signs remain an important, time-tested tool in the property market.
"The digital shift is undeniable, but not all buyers rely solely on online platforms. For many, seeing a sign outside a property feels more tangible and prompts spontaneous enquiries. Will it harm business? Potentially, especially for smaller agencies that rely on local visibility."
A spokesman from the council told GB News: "The council is looking to extend its efforts to ban these boards across the city.
"Everyone will have walked down roads with dozens of outdated and unsightly estate agent boards littering front gardens and porches.
"Powers to ban new boards helps us protect the look and feel of our city and encourage firms to move to environmentally friendly, digital forms of advertising."
Find Out More...