4-5 Bedford Square London WC1B 3RD Data via plota.co.uk

Pending 2026/1374/L
Change of useCommercial & major worksExtensions & alterationsCommercial premises
Council
Camden 3.1/10
Date received
10 Apr 2026
Date validated
10 Apr 2026
Postcode
WC1B 3RD

Description

Change of use from tertiary education facility (Class F1) to a private members' club (Sui Generis); external alterations including installation of; louvres to lower ground floor windows to front and rear elevations, plant equipment at rear courtyard and roof level; replacement front door and new fanlight to no. 5; internal alterations from basement to third floor level; and remedial works. Data via plota.co.uk

Get alerts nearby Council site ↗

Last checked

Decision outlook

Plota predicted a decision around 14 Sept 2026; it is now day 157.

Day 157, past the statutory target. 70% of extensions in Camden are decided within thirteen weeks; extensions of time are common, and the council need not decide on the day. Last seen undecided on 24 Aug 2026.

Day 157101 days past the 56-day target
52%decided within 8 weeks
98%approved
7%go to committee

Plota live figures for extensions decided by Camden in the last twelve months, from validation. Camden decision record →

Site constraints 6

Bloomsbury conservation area
Demolition needs planning permission and permitted development is restricted.
The council must give weight to preserving or enhancing the area's character and appearance. Not every council has published its boundaries as open data.
Council document ↗
Article 4 direction
Basements. Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.
An Article 4 direction withdraws particular permitted development rights, so work that would normally need no application needs one here. Not every council has published its directions.
Archaeological priority area
An assessment or field evaluation may be asked for before ground works.
The council or Historic England considers archaeology likely here. A desk-based assessment, and sometimes trial trenching, can be asked for with the application.
Air quality management area: Camden AQMA
The council has declared the area as failing an air quality objective.
Schemes that add traffic, parking or combustion plant are assessed against the area's action plan and may need an air quality assessment.
Council record ↗
Central activities zone
The core of central London in the London Plan.
Offices, culture and the other strategic functions of the centre take priority over new housing here.
Also on the record
Inside the Camden built-up area.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 11 September 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

Work with planning data?

Every application in Camden - and every UK council - as a live feed, an API, or a bulk CSV export.

About Plota's data service

Nearby new applications

8 Sept 2026Pending

Prospect House 100 New Oxford Street London Camden WC1A 1HB

New fascia signage with internal illumination, new projecting signage with exter...

2026/3812/A
15 May 2026Pending

Manette Street London

Display of an internally illuminated fascia sign measuring 1.742m X 0.549m (SITE...

26/03216/ADV
7 Sept 2026Pending

14 St Giles Square London WC2H 8AP

Oxford Street Development Corporation planning ref. PA/2026/0043 for: Non-materi...

2026/3829/P
7 Sept 2026Pending

30-34 New Oxford Street London WC1A 1AP

Installation of new fascia boards to shopfronts and a retractable awning above t...

2026/3842/P
7 Sept 2026Pending

30-34 New Oxford Street London WC1A 1AP

Display of 3 x externally illuminated fascia signs to New Oxford Street elevatio...

2026/3858/A
7 Sept 2026Pending

Network Building 100 Tottenham Court Road London W1T 4TP

Display of internally illuminatef Fascia Sign and internally illuminated Project...

2026/3137/A

Historical activity at this location

25 nearby applications on record - archival context, not part of the live application.

Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2024 Approved
Bedford Chambers 4 - 6 Bedford Square London WC1B 3RA
REAR GARDEN: 2 x Bay (T1 & T2) - Fell to ground level.
2024/3881/T
2024 Approved
49-51 Bedford Square London WC1B 3DP
Replacement of radiator system to corridors and toilets. Removal of redundant gas fired b…
2024/5257/L
2024 Approved
2 Gower Street London WC1E 6DP
Installation of one commemorative blue ceramic plaque to Rhoda and Agnes Garrett. Inset i…
2024/5365/L
2024 Approved
University College London South Quad Gower Street London WC1E 6BT
Retention of temporary teaching structure for a period of 5 years
2024/4397/P
2024 Approved
Bedford Square Gardens Bedford Square London WC1B 3HH
Remedial works to existing gates and adjacent railings to Bedford Square Gardens
2024/4076/P
2024 Approved
Bedford Square Gardens Bedford Square London WC1B 3HH
Remedial works to existing gates and adjacent railings to Bedford Square Gardens
2024/4440/L
2024 Approved
6 Bedford Square London WC1B 3RA
Restoration and maintenance of external features including redecoration, roof repairs, re…
2024/3545/P
2024 Approved
6 Bedford Square London WC1B 3RA
Restoration and maintenance of external features and internal alterations, including remo…
2024/3637/L
2024 Approved
50 Bloomsbury Street London WC1B 3QT
REAR GARDEN: 1 x Sycamore (BS.N2) - Canopy reduction of 3m - 4m. 1 x Sycamore (BN.N1) - C…
2024/4172/T
2023 Approved
50 Bloomsbury Street London WC1B 3QT
REAR GARDEN: 1 x Maple (T1) - Crown reduction by approx. 2.4m height and spread.
2023/5275/T
2021 Approved
53 Bedford Square London WC1B 3DP
Installation of security fish eye cameras and motion-activity security in basement area o…
2021/0043/L
2023 Approved
Bedford Square Gardens Bedford Square London WC1B 3HH
IN GARDENS: 1 x London Plane (Platanus x hispanica) (T82 & T91) - Remove epicormic growth…
2023/4911/T
2023 Withdrawn
46 Bedford Square London Camden WC1B 3DP
External cleaning and general maintenance works to plumbing system (cast iron hoppers and…
2023/4759/NEW
2023 Approved
1 & 2 Bedford Square London WC1B 3RA
External works and building fabric repairs.
2023/1851/L
2023 Approved
1 & 2 Bedford Square London WC1B 3RA
Reinstatement of internal second floor link between Nos 1 & 2 Bedford Square and installa…
2023/1872/L
2023 Approved
4 Gower Street London WC1E 6DP
REAR GARDEN: 1 x Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) (T1) - Fell to ground level and poi…
2023/2296/T
2023 Approved
34-36 Bedford Square London WC1B 3ES
Various internal works of refurbishment to upgrade mechanical and electrical installation…
2023/0888/L
2023 Approved
7 Bedford Square London Camden WC1B 3RA
Internal works to basement
2023/0451/L
2022 Approved
49 - 51 Bedford Square London Camden WC1B 3DP
Refurbishment and redecoration of four kitchens, alterations to the Mews Conservatory, ex…
2022/5296/L
2022 Approved
Bedford Square Garden Bedford Square London WC1B 3DP
IN GARDENS: 1 x Cotoneaster (T90) - Reduce height by 4m and spread by 1m - 2m to provide…
2022/4427/T
2016 Approved
Bedford Square Gardens Bedford Square London WC1B 3HH
DD - (TPO REF C5) - WITHIN GROUNDS: 1 x Elm - Reduce height and branch length by approxim…
2016/6167/T
2016 Approved
7 Bedford Square London WC1B 3RA
Formation of 2no. internal non load-bearing walls in the basement.
2016/3837/L
2016 Approved
1A Montague Place London WC1E 7JW
Replacement of railing and installation of decking on the terrace at 1st floor level.
2016/3665/P
2016 Approved
Bedford Square Gardens Bedford Square London WC1B 3HH
(TPO REF C5) NNW SIDE OF BEDFORD SQUARE GARDENS: 1 x London Plane - Reduce large limb poi…
2016/2123/T
2016 Withdrawn
54 Bloomsbury Street London Camden WC1B 3QT
Replacement of valley gutters at Nos. 54 & 52, floor levelling and replacement of dfectiv…
2016/1014/P
Camden
Planning Authority Score
3.1/10
Poor
#231 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Change of use

Camden is slower than most councils at deciding householder applications, ranking #242 out of 296. Householder applications are slightly less likely to be approved here (88%) than the national average (90%).

Slower than most councils
for householder decisions
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Camden decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
88%
Overall approval rate
Above avg (87%) #149 of 296
88%
Householder approved
Below avg (90%) #215 of 296
49%
Decided in 8 weeks
Below avg (63%) #242 of 296
41%
Extended time limit
Below avg (41%) #158 of 296
90%
Minor dwellings approved
467 decided (1-9 homes)
80%
Major dwellings approved
10 decided (10+ homes)
93%
Change of use approved
46 decided
1,973
Total decisions
234 refused in the year to March 2026
Source: MHCLG planning statistics · See full council rankings