54 - 56 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 6LR Data via plota.co.uk

26/05741/FULL - Full Planning Permission Application Approved
ShopfrontsCommercial premises

Proposal

Installation of replacement shopfronts and associated external works. Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
21 Aug 2026
✓
Approved
12 Oct 2026

Approved on 12 Oct 2026 · Delegated Decision · Last checked 13 Oct 2026

Documents 16

Decision & officer reports 2

PDF GRANT OF FULL PP [PE] Decision Notice · 12 Oct 2026 View ↗ PDF DELEGATED REPORT Report · 12 Oct 2026 View ↗

Statements & assessments 1

PDF PLANNING AND HERITAGE COVER LETTER Background Papers · 21 Aug 2026 View ↗

Plans & drawings 7

PDF PROPOSED SECTIONS A - B Drawing · 21 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF LOCATION PLAN Location Plan · 21 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF EXISTING - GROUND FLOOR PLAN AND STREET SCENE ELEVATION Drawing · 21 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF FRONT ELEVATION - AS EXISTING Drawing · 21 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF EXISTING SECTION A - B Drawing · 21 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF FRONT ELEVATION - AS PROPOSED Drawing · 21 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF PROPOSED - GROUND FLOOR PLAN AND STREET SCENE ELEVATION Drawing · 21 Aug 2026 View ↗

Application forms 1

PDF APPLICATIONFORMREDACTED Application Form · 21 Aug 2026 View ↗

Consultation & comments 1

PDF NEIGHBOUR NOTIFICATION LETTER (21D) Background Papers · 10 Sept 2026 View ↗

Other documents 4

PDF ACK-GENERAL LETTER (G/P/C) Background Papers · 10 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF CNSLT-LA SOCIETY Background Papers · 10 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF SITE NOTICE 21 OR 28 DAYS IF T&C APPL. Background Papers · 10 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION Other · 26 Aug 2026 View ↗

All documents on the council site ↗

Site constraints 11

Chinatown 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 ↗
2 Article 4 directions
Article 4 Basement Development Permitted Rights Removed · Article 4 Direction Class E To C3 In Central Activities Zone. Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.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.
Protected view corridor: 2A.2 Parliament Hill summit to the Palace of Westminster
Inside the landmark viewing corridor of a protected vista. A building that rises above the corridor's threshold height should be refused. How high that is depends on where along the view the site is.
The London Plan (policy HC4) designates strategic views, and the Mayor's London View Management Framework (March 2012) gives 13 of them a protected vista toward St Paul's Cathedral, the Palace of Westminster or the Tower of London. A vista has a threshold height that rises or falls with the line of sight. In the landmark viewing corridor, a building above it would harm the view and should be refused. In the wider setting consultation area around the corridor, a building above it is referred for consultation and its effect on the view is judged. The threshold changes along each view and is set out in the framework. A revised framework is out for consultation until 4 December 2026 and is not yet in force.
London View Management Framework ↗
Archaeological priority area: City of Westminster APA 1.2
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: Westminster 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 ↗
Town centre: West End
A designated centre in the London Plan.
Shops, services and active frontages are protected in centres, and main town centre uses are steered here first.
36 listed buildings within 150 m
Nearest: 41 and 43, Wardour Street W1, Grade II, 7 m away · 1 Grade II*, 35 Grade II
The site itself is not listed. Listed building consent is needed for work that affects the special interest of a listed building, inside or out, on top of planning permission. Setting can be a consideration for buildings nearby; there is no fixed radius.
Show all 36 with distances
Historic England ↗
National infrastructure project 576 m away: Thames Tideway Tunnel
The site is 576 m from the project boundary. Waste water treatment, decided. The project page says whether consent was granted. Also within 2 km: London Strategic Heat Main Project (at pre-application, 6 m).
Nationally significant infrastructure projects (power stations, electricity lines, pipelines, major roads and railways, harbours, airports and reservoirs) are consented by a Secretary of State under the Planning Act 2008, after an examination by the Planning Inspectorate, rather than by the council. The boundary is the one the Inspectorate consults on and can change as the scheme does. Projects are shown within 2 km of the site.
Planning Inspectorate project page ↗
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 City of Westminster built-up area; Public transport access: PTAL 6b (excellent), TfL 2023, for the 100 m square.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 6 October 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Planning Inspectorate, Transport for London (public transport access levels, Powered by TfL Open Data, OGL v3.0, contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2025) 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.

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Important details

Council
Westminster
Application type
Full Planning Permission Application
Postcode
W1D 6LR
Received
21 Aug 2026
Validated
21 Aug 2026
Ward
St James's
Case officer
Show
Target decision
16 Oct 2026
Decision
Application Permitted
Decision date
12 Oct 2026
Decision level
Delegated Decision
Agent
Rolfe Judd Planning

How this decision compares

Decided in 52 days from validation, 4 days faster than Westminster's median of 56 for shopfronts. Approved, as 82% of shopfronts here are.

51%decided within 8 weeks
82%approved
210decided in the last year

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

Public comments

1comment received
1 neutral

11 neighbours consulted · Last counted 13 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15170617
Planning Portal ref
PP-15170617
Comments by
7 Oct 2026
Site or press notice
16 Sept 2026
Env. assessment
No

Historical activity at this location

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

Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025
3 Macclesfield Street London W1D 6AU
Triple/alternative use of the first floor of 3 and 4 Macclesfield Street for either Resid…
25/08139/FULL
2025
Basement And Ground Floor Astoria House 62 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 6LT
Installation of mechanical plant associated with restaurant use.
25/07654/FULL
2025 Approved
Avenue House 25 - 27 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 7EG
Installation of exterior lighting to provide illumination to the existing building facade…
25/05819/LBC
2025 Approved
Avenue House 25 - 27 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 7EG
Installation of exterior lighting to provide illumination to the existing building facade…
25/05818/FULL
2025
33 - 37 Wardour Street London W1D 6PT
Display of internally illuminated projecting sign measuring 0.95m X 0.7m, 0.5m X 1.25m, i…
25/07568/ADV
2025 Withdrawn
18 Rupert Street London W1D 6DD
Retention of extract ductwork and air-conditioning condenser unit at rear.
25/06080/FULL
2025 Approved
Avenue House 25 - 27 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 7EG
Repairs and maintenance works to the existing building facades, including re-pointing of…
25/05763/LBC
2025
W London Leicester Square 10 Wardour Street London W1D 6QF
Variation of Condition 6 of planning permission dated 27th September 2023 (RN 23/05024/FU…
25/07318/FULL
2025 Approved
33 - 37 Wardour Street London W1D 6PT
Alterations to the Wardour Street frontage including the installation of a replacement sh…
25/05329/FULL
2025 Approved
1 - 2 Archer Street W1D 7AW
Proposed additions to an existing base station installation at rooftop at 2 Archer Street.
25/05368/FULL
2025 Approved
Basement And Ground Floor Astoria House 62 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 6LT
Display of an internally illuminated fascia sign measuring 2995mm x 800mm, three halo ill…
25/05987/ADV
2025 Refused
32 Wardour Street London W1D 6JJ
Installation of a new shopfront and associated external works including external lighting…
25/04326/FULL
2025 Approved
St Anne's Gardens Wardour Street London W1F 0UN
Alteration to the Wardour Street entrance stair and retaining wall, installation of new i…
25/03991/FULL
2025 Refused
32 Wardour Street London W1D 6JJ
Display of two internally and halo illuminated fascia signs each measuring 5.40m x 0.30m…
25/04327/ADV
2025
31 Wardour Street London W1D 6PT
Flexible / alternative use of the first to third floor for either continued office, finan…
25/04238/FULL
2025 Approved
Third Floor 34 - 36 Wardour Street London W1D 6QT
Dual / alternative use of the third floor for either office (Class E) or residential (Cla…
25/02656/FULL
2025
18 Rupert Street London W1D 6DD
Display of two internally illuminated fascia signs measuring 0.28m x 3.69m & 0.13m x 3.83…
25/02732/ADV
2025
29 Wardour Street London W1D 6PS
Dual/alternative use of the first, second and third floors for either continued office (C…
25/02323/FULL
2025
29 Wardour Street London W1D 6PS
Dual / alternative use of the first, second and third floors for either continued office…
25/02324/LBC
2025
22 Wardour Street London W1D 6QJ
Display of two internally illuminated fascia signs measuring 2.25m x 0.14m, and 1.90m x 0…
25/01224/ADV
2021 Approved
Astoria House 62 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 6LT
Removal of existing plant and installation of new items of building services plant in the…
21/02732/FULL
2021 Approved
10 Wardour Street London
Variation of condition 6 of planning permission dated 12 June 2019 (RN: 19/03364/TCH) Use…
21/03625/FULL
2021 Approved
45 Wardour Street London W1D 6PZ
Installation of a fire escape/access hatch from basement to ground on the front pavement…
21/01227/FULL
2021 Approved
39 - 45 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 6LA
Display of five internally illuminated (letters only) fascia sign measuring 0.36 x 2.64m…
21/04202/ADV
2021 Approved
Gerrard Street London
Installation of giant fake flowers hung from catenary cables measuring 0.8m x 1.2m betwee…
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Westminster
Planning Authority Score
3.5/10
Below average
#221 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Householder decisions

Westminster is slower than most councils at deciding householder applications, ranking #258 out of 296. Only 28% of applications have the time limit extended, well below the 41% national average - the council usually decides on time. Westminster is also one of the strictest councils - it refuses more householder applications than almost any other, with only 81% approved vs 90% nationally.

One of the strictest councils
only 81% approved vs 90% nationally
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Westminster decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
86%
Overall approval rate
Below avg (87%) #201 of 296
81%
Householder approved
Below avg (90%) #277 of 296
44%
Decided in 8 weeks
Below avg (63%) #258 of 296
28%
Extended time limit
Below avg (41%) #46 of 296
83%
Minor dwellings approved
12 decided (1-9 homes)
67%
Major dwellings approved
3 decided (10+ homes)
81%
Change of use approved
133 decided
4,602
Total decisions
648 refused in the year to March 2026
Source: MHCLG planning statistics · See full council rankings