43 - 45 Portman Square London W1H 6LY Data via plota.co.uk

Proposal

Amendments to planning permission dated 02 March 2026 (RN: ) for the variation of Condition 1 of planning permission dated 7th April 2025 (RN: ) for, 'Partial demolition of the existing roof and removal of plant equipment; construction of a roof extension providing new office (Class E) floorspace with associated external amenity spaces and plant equipment; refurbishment of the existing building, including infilling of the existing atrium; alterations to the existing façade; provision of cycle parking spaces and end of journey facilities, and all associated and ancillary works'; Namely,the retention of existing cores, the infilling of atria, the provision of additional rooflights to the western 3rd floor terrace, layout changes at ground and lower ground levels and changes to some windows on the eastern façade and retention of existing first floor windows, resulting in single storey full height glazing to the retail frontages along Orchard Street (Application under Section 73 of the Act); NAMELY rooftop plant screening; enlargement of lift overrun; adjustments to PV layout; reconfiguration of Level 10 north façade with doors and panels; consolidation and removal of blue roofs at Levels 10 and 8; enlargements of SW stair roof with addition of vent for pressurisation; updating of south façade windows with discreet vents; alerations to NW mansard for maintenance access; addition of additional louvres for building services. Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
23 Jun 2026
✓
Approved
21 Jul 2026

Approved on 21 Jul 2026 · Last checked 21 Jul 2026

Associated applications 9

Site constraints 12

Portman Estate 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 Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.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 2.9
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 36 m away: Portman Square and Manchester 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.
Also on the record
9 listed buildings within 150 m; National infrastructure project 1959 m away: Thames Tideway Tunnel; Inside the City of Westminster built-up area; Public transport access: PTAL 6b (excellent), TfL 2023, for the 100 m square; Priority habitat 36 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.

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Important details

Postcode
W1H 6LY
Received
23 Jun 2026
Validated
23 Jun 2026
Target decision
21 Jul 2026
Decision
Application Permitted
Decision date
21 Jul 2026
Leaseholder
Show

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15025748
Planning Portal ref
PP-15025748
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

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.