Kings College 160 Strand London WC2R 2LS Data via plota.co.uk

26/06711/NMA - Non-material amendments Pending
Utility infrastructure

Proposal

Amendments to planning permission dated 26 March 2026 (RN: 26/00214/FULL) for the: Installation of external vertical and horizontal flues, a new vertical exhaust system, four extract fans and a louvre screen at roof level, provision of additional external plant equipment and associated works in the rear lightwell, provision of new air handling units and air source heat pumps, removal of external lower ground floor courtyard windows and replacement with a curtain wall system, and installation of new fencing, grating, and supports, and associated works. NAMELY, to allow replacement of the anodised aluminium finish with a black PPC aluminium finish, RAL 9005; and revise the route and termination position of the approved laboratory extract duct within the rear lightwell area. Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
1 Oct 2026
Decision
Expected by 29 Oct 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. Plota predicts a decision between 23 Nov 2026 and 3 Dec 2026, from Westminster's recent utility and infrastructure works.

Documents 6

Decision & officer reports 1

PDF 02 - DECISION NOTICE FOR PLANNING PERMISSION 26.00214.FULL Background Papers · 1 Oct 2026 View ↗

Statements & assessments 2

PDF DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT ADDENDUM_260917 Design and Access Statement · 1 Oct 2026 View ↗ PDF 01 - NMA COVERING LETTER (INC. PLANNING AND HERITAGE CONSIDERATIONS) Background Papers · 1 Oct 2026 View ↗

Plans & drawings 1

PDF 03 - PROPOSED DRAWINGS (COMBINED) Drawing · 1 Oct 2026 View ↗

Application forms 1

PDF APPLICATIONFORMREDACTED Application Form · 1 Oct 2026 View ↗

Other documents 1

PDF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION Other · 6 Oct 2026 View ↗

All documents on the council site ↗

Site constraints 11

Grade I listed: Somerset House and King's College Old Building
List entry 1237041 · The pin is inside its outline · 14 more listed buildings within 150 m (2 Grade I, 12 Grade II)
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 the other 14 with distances
Historic England ↗
Strand 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.
National infrastructure project: Thames Tideway Tunnel
The site is inside 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, 463 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 ↗
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.
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
Registered park or garden 189 m away: Victoria Embankment Gardens; 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.

Building

Floor area1,788 m² (19,246 sq ft)
Energy ratingC (asset rating 68)
UseC2 Residential Institutions - Universities and colleges
HeatingHeating and Natural Ventilation

From the energy performance certificate lodged in January 2016, the latest held for this property. The building may have changed since. View the certificate

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Important details

Council
Westminster
Application type
Non-material amendments
Postcode
WC2R 2LS
Received
1 Oct 2026
Validated
1 Oct 2026
Ward
St James's
Case officer
Show
Target decision
29 Oct 2026
Applicant
Show
Agent
Montagu Evans LLP

Decision outlook

Day 8 of the 56-day target. Westminster usually decides utility and infrastructure works by day 57.

Day 849 days to the predicted decision (day 57)
49%decided within 8 weeks
90%approved
413decided in the last year

Plota live figures for utility and infrastructure works decided by Westminster in the last twelve months, from validation. Westminster decision record →

Public comments

No public comments yet.

Last counted 6 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15244129
Planning Portal ref
PP-15244129
Env. assessment
No

Historical activity at this location

50 previous applications on record - archival context, not part of the live application.

This property

Previous applications at this address

2025
Installation of external vertical and horizontal flues, new vertical exhaust, four extrac…
25/02660/FULL
2025
Installation of steelwork to support a folding partition.
25/00315/LBC
2024
Installation of refuge points for emergency evacuation from the building.
24/06418/LBC
2024
Display of non-illuminated sculpture measuring 2.4m x 1.5m for a temporary period form 20…
24/06132/ADV
2024
Alteration to an external door, internal layout alterations, and refurbishment works to K…
24/05941/LBC
2024
Alteration to an external door.
24/05940/FULL
2024
Internal alterations and the relocation of the Modern Language Centre within the King's B…
24/05462/LBC
2024 Approved
Internal alterations to form access hatches in the ceiling to enable routing of cables.
24/02508/LBC
2023 Approved
Replacement of observatory dome at roof level and external decorations to the immediate a…
23/05284/FULL
2023
Installation of a mechanical system to automate the existing Nash Lecture Theatre doors a…
23/05801/LBC
2023 Approved
Refurbishment of existing male and female toilets in entrance lobby to the Kings Building.
23/04219/LBC
2023 Approved
Removal of existing audio-visual and replace with new and provision of new access hatches…
23/03847/LBC
2023 Approved
Installation of ten Wi-Fi antennas to various buildings on Strand Campus [namely, one ant…
23/02029/FULL
2023
Additional of automation to existing Safra Lecture Theatre doors and refurbishment of exi…
23/03306/LBC
2023 Approved
Internal refurbishment of rooms including, forming new comms room and installing new elec…
23/01062/LBC
2022 Approved
Display of vinyl stickers applied externally on to the glazing of the ground floor fronta…
22/07949/COADV
2022
Internal alterations including the installation of text panels to existing display cabine…
22/06459/LBC
2021 Approved
Works to internal vaults within the King's Building
21/07007/LBC
2021 Approved
Internal alterations including reinstatement of the northeast corridor in the Kings Build…
21/05884/LBC
2021 Approved
Alterations to doors and additional audio visual equipment, to Level -1, Level 0 and Leve…
21/06928/LBC
2017 Approved
Installation of 4no. antennas at roof level to the Strand Building for telecommunication…
17/08368/FULL
2017 Approved
Internal alterations.
17/01772/LBC
2016 Approved
Changing the display graphics of 5 No. digital screens from 30 seconds to 12 seconds.
16/07497/ADV
2016 Approved
Internal alterations to provide break-out space in part of the King's Building at ground…
16/06033/LBC
2016 Approved
Display graphics from 5 No digital screen set 50mm back from glass frontage at King's Col…
16/03507/ADV
Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025
St Mary Le Strand Church Strand London WC2R 1ES
Display internally illuminated shroud/art installation measuring 15.65m x 30.01m
25/07238/ADV
2025
33 - 41 Surrey Street London WC2R 2ND
Display of three non-illuminated signs (all measuring 0.4 m x 0.4 m) to the railings in f…
25/07198/ADV
2025
33 - 41 Surrey Street London WC2R 2ND
Installation of three signs to the railings in front of the King's College London buildin…
25/07183/LBC
2025 Approved
St Mary Le Strand Church Strand London WC2R 1ES
Erection of a temporary artwork installation along the south facade and corners of the ea…
25/04633/FULL
2025
St Mary Le Strand Church Strand London WC2R 1ES
Display of a temporary artwork installation along the south facade and corners of the eas…
25/05928/ADV
2025
The Old Watch House Strand Lane London WC2
Internal layout alterations; provision of Gallagher door controls for card-reader access…
25/03226/LBC
2025
Somerset House Strand London WC2R 1LA
Relocation of an existing gate and railings to allow step-free access / egress from the n…
25/02935/FULL
2025
152 - 172 Strand London WC2R 2LS
Display of one non illuminated hoarding sign measuring 4.5m x 30m and one non illuminated…
25/02898/ADV
2025
Surrey Street London
Installation of a wayfinding information map and board to the entrance of the underground…
25/02650/LBC
2025 Withdrawn
The Strand Aldwych Public Space Strand London
Display of a dog sculpture measuring 9m x 4m, which will sit on a platform measuring 12m…
25/00143/ADV
2024
St Mary Le Strand Church Strand London WC2R 1ES
Internal and external alterations including two new ramps and a terrace on the north side…
24/08327/FULL
2023 Approved
Somerset House Strand London WC2R 1LA
Installation of a Ferris Wheel in the courtyard of Somerset House for a temporary period.
23/02551/FULL
2023
North Wing Courtauld Institute Of Art Somerset House Strand London WC2E 7EA
External and internal works including access, maintenance and fire safety works, new West…
23/03682/LBC
2023
North Wing Courtauld Institute Of Art Somerset House Strand London WC2E 7EA
External alterations including access, maintenance and fire safety works, new West and Ea…
23/03681/FULL
2023 Approved
Near St Mary Le Strand Church Strand London WC2R 1ES
Display of a non-illuminated 'otter' sculpture measuring 2.0 m x 1.2 m x 2.0 m for a temp…
23/02472/ADV
2023 Approved
Kings College Strand London WC2R 2LS
Internal cleaning of stonework to floors and stairs.
23/00225/LBC
2022
Somerset House Strand London WC2R 1LA
Cleaning of Portland Stone on the West facing elevation (Lancaster Place) using facade go…
22/05583/LBC
2022 Approved
152-172 Strand London WC2R 2LS
External lighting strategy to the main quadrangle 152-157 Strand (Linked to 22/00243/LBC)
22/00242/FULL
2022 Approved
Somerset House Strand London WC2R 1LA
Installation of a Ferris Wheel in the courtyard of Somerset House for a temporary period.
22/01295/FULL
2021 Withdrawn
New Wing Somerset House Strand London
Erection of structures in association with temporary ancillary events and art installatio…
21/07821/LBC
2016 Refused
Kings College 160 Strand London WC2R 1JA
Installation of LED strip lights to two steps at the entrance to the Great Hall.
16/03070/LBC
2016 Approved
Kings College 160 Strand London WC2R 1JA
Installation of plant equipment at ground floor level, including alterations to window an…
16/03460/LBC
2016 Approved
5 Strand Lane London WC2R 2NA
Repairs to mansard roof, removal of zinc roof covering, repair of timber boards and timbe…
16/04806/LBC
2016 Approved
Surrey Street London
Relocation of cabman's shelter to the west side of Surrey Street for a temporary period.
16/02785/FULL
2016 Approved
Bus Shelter Outside King's College Strand London WC2R 1ES
Display of a double-sided advertisement panel consisting of 1 LED digital screen and 1 st…
16/02238/ADV
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

Freehold boundary: © Crown copyright and database rights 2026, HM Land Registry. Polygons © Crown copyright and database rights 2026 Ordnance Survey 100026316. Conditions of use

Energy performance: Energy performance certificates from the Energy Performance of Buildings Register, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright 2026.