8 Berkeley Square London W1J 6EE Data via plota.co.uk

26/04742/FULL - Full Planning Permission Application Pending

Proposal

Installation of 2 non-removable planters on the pavement adjacent to the cafe frontage. 1. Design and Appearance The proposed planters will measure 0.50m ? 1.2m ? 0.75m and will be constructed from natural wood. They will be finished in a dark grey colour to complement the existing streetscape and our restaurant frontage. The planters will be filled with high-quality, seasonal evergreen shrubs and flowers to enhance the visual amenity of the area, soften the urban environment, and support local biodiversity. 2. Layout and Pedestrian Access The planters will be positioned directly against the boundary of our premises at 1.2 m from the building line, ensuring that a continuous, unobstructed pedestrian thoroughfare of at least 2.0m is maintained. This ensures full compliance with local access guidelines and ensures the footway remains entirely accessible for prams, wheelchair users, and pedestrians. 3. Permanence and Safety These planters are designed to be "non-removable" in order to act as robust demarcation for our outdoor seating area, protecting seated patrons from passing vehicular traffic and preventing unauthorised street trading. They will be securely fixed to the pavement to ensure they cannot be moved or toppled. We hold current and valid Public Liability Insurance to cover the external area. 4. Maintenance and Upkeep The planters will be strictly managed and maintained by L?ETO. We commit to regular watering, pruning, and litter clearance within the planters to ensure they remain tidy and attractive at all times. If necessary, the planters can be unbolted and relocated by a professional contractor to allow for essential highway maintenance or utility works. Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
15 Jul 2026
Decision
Target date was 9 Sept 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. Plota predicted a decision around 19 Oct 2026; it is now day 96.

The consultation period closed on 19 Aug 2026.

Site constraints 12

Mayfair 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.
Archaeological priority area: City of Westminster APA 2.5
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.
Registered park or garden 27 m away: Berkeley Square
Its setting is a consideration for work nearby.
Registered parks and gardens, battlefields, world heritage sites and protected wrecks are designated heritage assets: harm needs clear and convincing justification.
Historic England ↗
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.
44 listed buildings within 150 m
Nearest: 3-6, GRAFTON STREET W1 (See details for further address information), Grade I, 41 m away · 4 Grade I, 3 Grade II*, 37 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 44 with distances
Historic England ↗
National infrastructure project 1034 m away: Thames Tideway Tunnel
The site is 1034 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, 697 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 ↗
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; Priority habitat 27 m away: Deciduous woodland.
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 area116 m² (1,249 sq ft)
Energy ratingB (asset rating 28)
UseRetail/Financial and Professional Services
HeatingAir Conditioning

From the energy performance certificate lodged in September 2022, the latest held for this property. The building may have changed since. View the certificate

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Important details

Application type
Full Planning Permission Application
Postcode
W1J 6EE
Received
15 Jul 2026
Validated
15 Jul 2026
Ward
West End
Case officer
Show
Target decision
9 Sept 2026
Applicant
Show
Leaseholder
Show

Decision outlook

Day 96, past the statutory target. 86% of shopfronts in Westminster are decided within thirteen weeks; extensions of time are common, and the council need not decide on the day. Last seen undecided on 18 Oct 2026.

Day 9640 days past the 56-day target
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

No public comments yet.

2 neighbours consulted · Last counted 18 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15086531
Planning Portal ref
PP-15086531
Comments by
19 Aug 2026
Site or press notice
29 Jul 2026
Env. assessment
No
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

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.

Leaseholders: Information produced by HM Land Registry. © Crown copyright 2026. Source: HM Land Registry, UK and overseas companies that own property in England and Wales, September 2026 release.