communities.

Susan Collins was prompted to find a solution to this problem whilst acting as Secretary and Chairman to two Residents’ Associations. Every time a flat was put up for sale or to rent, the Estate Agent would pitch up and put his board in the most prominent position, leaving it there until it was sold. No consideration was given to the other residents living on the development who were not selling their property but had to suffer looking out onto the sign daily.

If more than one flat was up for sale and it happened to be with a different agent, another board would be erected. At one stage on one development in Southampton, 17 Estate Agents boards were erected along the total perimeter fence of a block of flats, sending out the message “no-one likes living here” “you can buy at a bargain price as everyone wants to leave” in other words the properties were being devalued using the existing Estate Agent’s method of advertising: It also made the road look unsightly.

In Southampton where there are a number of large blocks of flats, it meant that at any one time the resident’s view was not a beautiful garden they had paid maintenance charges to upkeep but a low grade board which had no aesthetic appeal what so ever. Something needed to be done to protect the residents’ well being and so Susan set about designing a single structure to accommodate multiple boards in order to improve the visual aspect of the development / street; the structure had to be aesthetically pleasing, sustainable with green credentials and make a positive impact on the environment.