Digital billboards (LED / digital out-of-home screens) represent one of the fastest-growing revenue streams for commercial property owners in the UK. Located on high-visibility facades, at roadside forecourts, or retail complexes, these digital screens provide dynamic advertising opportunities that generate recurring income while enhancing asset value.
For landlords and developers, integrating digital billboard advertising into property portfolios delivers passive revenue, increased footfall, and premium branding assets. Fraser Bond advises landowners, commercial investors, and developers on structuring, securing, and monetising digital advertising assets across London and the UK.
Site Identification & Permissions
Secure rights to mount screens either on your building façade, roadside structure, or freestanding pylons—subject to planning, highways, and landlord consents.
Screen Technology & Specifications
LED panels with high resolution (P3, P4 pitch), brightness (>5,000 nits for outdoor), weatherproof enclosures, and remote content management systems.
Advertising Contracts & Inventory Management
Screen time is sold in slots (e.g., 6, 10, 30 seconds) to advertisers via digital networks or agencies. The property owner receives fixed rent, revenue share, or hybrid models.
Infrastructure & Support Systems
Requires power supply, data connectivity (fiber or LTE), structural support, maintenance access, and cooling/ventilation.
Regulation & Planning
Outdoor screens generally require consent under the Town & Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 2007. Local authorities impose limits on brightness, motion, hours of display, and advertisement content.
Content & Compliance
Advert content must comply with ASA / CAP (UK Advertising Standards) rules, maintain public safety (no flashing or distraction) and respect local authority conditions.
Fixed Rent / Lease Model – Advertiser or network pays fixed rent for screen access.
Revenue Share – Landlord receives a share of advertising income (e.g. 30–50%).
Inventory Partnership – Landlord handles part of content sales while sharing responsibility and income.
Production & Placement Fees – Value-added fees for content creation, replication, or digital targeting.
Digital screens in high-traffic London areas (e.g. Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street) can command very high CPMs (cost per thousand impressions) and generate strong yields per square metre.
Visibility & Exposure – Major roads, arterial routes, junctions, shopping streets.
Elevation & Sightlines – Screen height, angle, setback from traffic, lack of visual obstructions.
Traffic Volume / Demographics – Vehicle counts, pedestrian flow, location audience profiling.
Regulatory Context – Local planning policies, lighting zones, conservation areas.
Structural Integrity – Façade strength, wind load, maintenance access for screen servicing.
Power & Data Access – Reliable high-capacity supply and connectivity.
Benefits
High-margin passive income stream
Increased property valuation
Attracting advertising and branding interest
Complementary to retail / commercial tenant mix
Flexibility in content (dynamic, targeted advertising)
Risks
Planning rejection or control limitations
Visual amenity objections or complaints
Infrastructure cost (capex & maintenance)
Contract risk or downtime
Technological obsolescence
To mitigate, Fraser Bond recommends pilot installations, conservative brightness specs, break clauses, and partnering with established screen operators.
Clear Channel UK – National network of digital billboards and DOOH screens.
JCDecaux UK – Large presence in transit, street furniture, and commercial retail facades.
Global / Talon Outdoor – Investment in large-format digital displays including urban and roadside.
Captivate Group UK – Focused indoor / retail digital signage in malls and transport hubs.
Outsmart / Ocean Outdoor UK – Digital screens in premium retail & urban contexts (e.g. London).
Exterion Media (now part of Global Outdoor) – Digital network across bus shelters, billboards.
Many of these firms collaborate with landlords on revenue-share or lease models to deploy digital inventory across property portfolios.
Fraser Bond supports property investors and owners in monetising digital advertising through:
Site Audits & Opportunity Mapping — Identify high-impact façade and roadside locations in your portfolio
Operator Sourcing & Tender Process — Match you with leading digital advertising networks
Commercial Structuring & Negotiation — Draft agreements around rent, share, renewals, uptime SLAs
Planning & Regulatory Strategy — Lead consent submissions, lighting and highways compliance
Asset Strategy & Exit Modeling — Incorporate digital revenue into valuation, leasing, and refinancing plans
To explore digital billboard advertising opportunities on your UK or London real estate assets, contact Fraser Bond via FraserBond.com for custom advisory support.
