Bell House 8 Bell Yard London WC2A 2JR Data via plota.co.uk

26/04578/FULL - Full Planning Permission Application Approved
Extensions & alterations

Proposal

Replacement of timber upstand at base of bay with glazed panels. Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
9 Jul 2026
✓
Approved
20 Aug 2026

Approved on 20 Aug 2026 · Delegated Decision · Last checked 22 Aug 2026

Documents 17

Decision & officer reports 2

PDF GRANT OF FULL PP [PE] Decision Notice · 20 Aug 2026 View ↗ PDF DELEGATED REPORT Report · 20 Aug 2026 View ↗

Statements & assessments 1

PDF DESIGN ACCESS AND HERITAGE STATEMENT Design and Access Statement · 9 Jul 2026 View ↗

Plans & drawings 8

PDF PROPOSED BLOCK PLAN Drawing · 9 Jul 2026 View ↗ PDF PROPOSED PLANS Drawing · 9 Jul 2026 View ↗ PDF PROPOSED SECTION AND ELEVATION Drawing · 9 Jul 2026 View ↗ PDF PROPOSED DETAI Drawing · 9 Jul 2026 View ↗ PDF LOCATION PLAN Location Plan · 9 Jul 2026 View ↗ PDF EXISTING BLOCK PLAN Drawing · 9 Jul 2026 View ↗ PDF EXISTING AND PROPSOED PLANS, ELEVATIONS AND SECTIONS Drawing · 9 Jul 2026 View ↗ PDF PROPOSED VISUAL Drawing · 9 Jul 2026 View ↗

Application forms 1

PDF APPLICATIONFORMREDACTED Application Form · 9 Jul 2026 View ↗

Consultation & comments 1

PDF NEIGHBOUR NOTIFICATION LETTER (21D) Background Papers · 22 Jul 2026 View ↗

Other documents 4

PDF ACK-GENERAL LETTER (G/P/C) Background Papers · 22 Jul 2026 View ↗ PDF CNSLT-LA SOCIETY Background Papers · 22 Jul 2026 View ↗ PDF SITE NOTICE 21 OR 28 DAYS IF T&C APPL. Background Papers · 22 Jul 2026 View ↗ PDF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION Other · 10 Jul 2026 View ↗

All documents on the council site ↗

Site constraints 10

Grade II listed: 4 and 5, Bell Yard Wc2
List entry 1357187 · 22 m from the pin · 63 more listed buildings within 150 m (3 Grade I, 13 Grade II*, 44 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 63 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 ↗
Article 4 direction
Article 4 Basement Development Permitted Rights Removed. 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: 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 ↗
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
Scheduled monument 190 m away: Inner Temple Hall Buttery; Registered park or garden 173 m away: Middle Temple; Inside the City of Westminster built-up area; Town centre 46 m away: Fleet Street.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt

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.

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Important details

Council
Westminster
Application type
Full Planning Permission Application
Postcode
WC2A 2JR
Received
9 Jul 2026
Validated
9 Jul 2026
Ward
St James's
Case officer
Show
Target decision
3 Sept 2026
Decision
Application Permitted
Decision date
20 Aug 2026
Decision level
Delegated Decision
Applicant
Show
Agent
Shape Architecture Ltd.

How this decision compares

Decided in 42 days from validation, 11 days faster than Westminster's median of 53 for extensions. Approved, as 87% of extensions here are.

62%decided within 8 weeks
87%approved
930decided in the last year

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

Public comments

No public comments yet.

21 neighbours consulted · Last counted 22 Aug 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15072273
Site or press notice
29 Jul 2026
Env. assessment
No

Historical activity at this location

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

This property

Previous applications at this address

2023 Approved
Installation of new fenestration at ground floor front elevation to replicate shopfront.
23/04529/FULL
2022 Approved
Confirmation that works undertaken to the rear elevation including the removal of the exi…
22/03706/CLEUD
2021 Approved
Detailed elevations, plans and sections of new roof extension, new railings and new pavem…
21/00120/ADFULL
2020 Approved
Details of written and photographic schedule of the facing materials pursuant to Conditio…
20/06662/ADFULL
2019 Approved
Erection of a single storey roof extension at fifth floor level including the provision o…
19/04017/FULL
Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025 Approved
10 Leake Street, London, SE1 7NN
Request for a Screening Opinion in respect of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) pu…
25/00862/OBS
2025 Approved
5 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1LG
Submission of Local Training, Skills and Job Brokerage Strategy monitoring information pu…
25/01459/PODC
2025 Approved
194 Fleet Street,London,EC4A 2LT
Consultation by the Westminster City Council on a planning application for the use of the…
25/01430/OBS
2025 Approved
10 Leake Street, Lambeth SE1 7NN
Consultation by London Borough of Lambeth on an application for Redevelopment of the site…
25/01047/OBS
2025
194 Fleet Street London EC4A 2LT
Use of the first floor mezzanine from office (Use Class E) to public house (Sui Generis)…
25/06795/LBC
2025
194 Fleet Street London EC4A 2LT
Use of the first floor mezzanine from office (Use Class E) to public house (Sui Generis)…
25/06794/FULL
2025 Refused
6 Bell Yard London WC2A 2JR
Removal of the existing mechanical plant and installation of new mechanical plant with ac…
25/05422/FULL
2025 Approved
5 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1LG
Temporary display of a non-illuminated hoarding advertisement across three elevations mea…
25/00648/ADVT
2025 Approved
122 - 126 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1PU
Re-roofing horizontal flat areas of upper roofs; rendering outer face of part existing re…
25/04511/FULL
2025 Approved
122 - 126 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1PU
Re-roofing horizontal flat areas of upper roofs; rendering inside and outer face of part…
25/04512/LBC
2025 Approved
60 Carey Street London Borough Of Camden London WC2A 2JB
Extension of the existing closet wing at ground up to 2nd floor to provide a new stair an…
25/05510/OBS
2024 Approved
Kings College Maughan Library Chancery Lane London WC2A 1LR
Installation of electrically operated hold-back devices for fire doors and electrically o…
24/00930/LBC
2024 Approved
5 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1LG
Submission of a Local Procurement Strategy Monitoring Report pursuant to Schedule 3, Para…
24/00693/PODC
2024
126 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1PU
Internal alterations to include removal of interior partition walls and fixtures, and ins…
24/05326/LBC
2023 Approved
116-118 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1PP
Installation of a fire suppression unit and service access hatch/rooflight at roof level.
23/08438/LBC
2023
116-118 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1PP
Variation of condition 1 of planning permission dated 11 August 2023 (RN: 23/00368/FULL…
23/08480/FULL
2023 Withdrawn
116-118 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1PP
Alterations to internal layout at basement level.
23/05963/LBC
2023 Approved
5 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1LG
Submission of the Utility Connection Requirements and Draft Programme pursuant to Schedul…
23/00917/PODC
2023 Withdrawn
116-118 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1PP
Variation of condition 1 of planning permission dated 11 August 2023 (RN:23/00368/FULL) f…
23/05994/FULL
2023 Approved
1 Fleet Street London EC4Y 1BD
Removal of existing automation room from ground floor
23/00701/LBC
2018 Refused
123 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1PP
Retention of plant located on the highway on Andrews Crosse to the side of the building a…
18/00602/FULL
2017 Approved
191 Fleet Street London EC4A 2NJ
Installation of a new shopfront.
17/00536/FULL
2017 Approved
Chancery Lane London
Display of Christmas lighting decorations on Chancery Lane for temporary period (October…
17/07074/ADV
2017 Approved
Kings College Maughan Library Chancery Lane City Of London London
Construction of a cycle store measuring 9.8m in length x 3.5m in width x 2.7m in height…
17/06811/OBS
2017 Approved
191 Fleet Street London EC4A 2NJ
Installation and display of four halo illuminated fascia signs measuring 0.38m high by 0…
17/00537/ADVT
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