Smithson Tower 25 St James's Street London SW1A 1HA Data via plota.co.uk

25/05204/TELNOT - Telecoms Notification Decided

Proposal

Installation of fixed line broadband electronic communications apparatus by utilizing the current ceased circuit. Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
19 Jul 2025
✓
Validated
25 Jul 2025
✓
No Further Action
25 Jul 2025

No Further Action on 25 Jul 2025 · Last checked 30 Oct 2026

Documents 1

Other documents 1

PDF ACK-TELECOM NOTIFICATION Background Papers · 25 Jul 2025 View ↗

All documents on the council site ↗

Site constraints 12

Grade II* listed: The Economist group (including office tower, residential block, former bank and podium)
List entry 1264050 · The pin is inside its outline · 45 more listed buildings within 150 m (5 Grade I, 12 Grade II*, 28 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 45 with distances
Historic England ↗
St James's 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 Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.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.
National infrastructure project 562 m away: Thames Tideway Tunnel
The site is 562 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, 364 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 ↗
Habitat network: Network Enhancement Zone 2
Where habitat is joined up enough to work as a network. Context, not a constraint on its own.
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 190 m away: St James's Square; 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 1 November 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
Telecoms Notification
Postcode
SW1A 1HA
Received
19 Jul 2025
Validated
25 Jul 2025
Ward
St James's
Case officer
Show
Target decision
22 Aug 2025
Decision
No Further Action
Decision date
25 Jul 2025
Applicant
Show
Agent
Openreach
Leaseholder
Show

Public comments

No public comments yet.

Last counted 30 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Env. assessment
No

Historical activity at this location

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

This property

Previous applications at this address

2025
Use of two outdoor seating areas comprising 56 covers total. (Land To The Front Of And Ad…
25/06943/FULL
2024
Works to both 7th and 8th floors of Smithson Plaza; existing modernized interior to be st…
24/04260/LBC
2024
Replacement windows and glazing
24/04002/CLEUD
2023 Approved
Alterations to upper ground floor unit including removal of existing internal doors and g…
23/08723/LBC
2020 Approved
Fit out works at the fourth floor of Smithson Tower associated with the office use.
20/00162/LBC
2019 Approved
Internal alterations to fourth floor of Smithson Tower including the forming of conferenc…
19/08494/LBC
2019 Approved
Internal alterations and refurbishment of 11th floor.
19/08200/LBC
2019 Approved
Installation of a free standing antenna on the roof of Smithson Tower with wired connecti…
19/05811/LBC
2019 Approved
Installation of a free standing antenna on the roof of Smithson Tower with wired connecti…
19/05810/FULL
2018 Approved
Office fitout on 12th floor generally comprising 10mm floor to ceiling frameless glass pa…
18/07647/LBC
2018 Withdrawn
Office fitout on 12th floor generally comprising 10mm floor to ceiling frameless glass pa…
18/07646/FULL
Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025
Brooks St James's Street London SW1A 1LN
Repairs to brickwork at pavement vaults to south of basement.
25/08022/LBC
2025
Basement And Ground Floor Smithson Tower 25 St James's Street London SW1A 1HA
Display of non-illuminated fascia sign measuring 0.63m x 0.22m; 8 vinyl logos behind glaz…
25/06931/ADV
2025
Basement And Ground Floor Smithson Tower 25 St James's Street London SW1A 1HA
Installation of a fascia sign, a wall plaque and 8 vinyl logos behind glazing. (Linked wi…
25/06882/LBC
2025 Approved
44 Duke Street St James's London SW1Y 6DD
Display of one non illuminated high level banner on white painted steel flag pole measuri…
25/04734/ADV
2025 Approved
22 Bury Street London SW1Y 6AL
Alterations to the existing shopfront to install new stall riser and window frame and ass…
25/02350/FULL
2025
16 Arlington Street SW1A 1RD
Demolition and replacement of external fire escape stair, conservatory removal and associ…
25/03660/LBC
2025
16 Arlington Street SW1A 1RD
Demolition and replacement of external fire escape stair, conservatory removal and associ…
25/03659/FULL
2025
22 Bury Street London SW1Y 6AL
Partially removal of internal mezzanine, and addition of front signage at front window ba…
25/02351/LBC
2025
24 St James's Square London SW1Y 4JH
New internal floor finishes including floor levelling with applied decorative finishes; I…
25/01186/LBC
2024
69 Jermyn Street London SW1Y 6NY
Display of non-illuminated, hardwood lettering fascia sign. (Linked with 24/08467/LBC)
24/08528/ADV
2024
69 Jermyn Street London SW1Y 6NY
Installation of a fascia sign consisting of black painted wood lettering. (Linked with 24…
24/08467/LBC
2024
61 St James's Street London SW1A 1LY
Replacement of existing services equipment in the lower ground floor lightwell, and guard…
24/04709/FULL
2024 Approved
Ryder Court 14 Ryder Street London SW1Y 6QB
Erection of single storey cycle parking pod within carpark, and associated works.
24/03110/FULL
2024
30 Bury Street London SW1Y 6AU
Interior fit out of the unit comprising architectural wall and ceiling linings, and subst…
24/04001/LBC
2024 Approved
Blue Post Public House 6 Bennet Street London SW1A 1RP
Use of two areas of public highway measuring 0.8 metres x 9.1 metres (Bennet Street) and…
24/01406/TCH
2023 Approved
Ryder Court 14 Ryder Street London SW1Y 6QB
Variation of condition 1 of planning permission dated 24 July 2023 (RN: 22/08649/FULL) fo…
23/08816/FULL
2023 Approved
62 St James's Street London SW1A 1LY
Display of non-illuminated hoarding measuring 3.73m x 7m x 2.49m to surround scaffold wit…
23/07594/ADV
2023
30 Bury Street London SW1Y 6AU
Creation of additional external ventilation grilles and rehanging of an existing external…
23/07633/FULL
2023
30 Bury Street London SW1Y 6AU
Creation of additional external ventilation grilles, rehanging of an existing external do…
23/07634/LBC
2023 Approved
23 St James's Street London SW1A 1HA
Outdoor seating area comprising 36 chairs, 15 tables, 10 umbrellas, 4 sofas and 1 service…
23/01379/FULL
2019 Refused
60 St James's Street London SW1A 1LE
Erection of flagpole to front of building.
19/06256/FULL
2019 Approved
Ninth Floor Smithson Tower 25 St James's Street London SW1A 1HA
Office fit-out works at Level 9 of Smithson Tower.
19/05079/LBC
2019 Approved
Second Floor 26 St James's Street London SW1A 1HA
Internal alterations including CFM propose to add a reception area, two meeting rooms, tw…
19/04892/LBC
2019 Approved
Ninth Floor Smithson Tower 25 St James's Street London SW1A 1HA
Internal alterations to level 9 for new office fit-out.
19/03841/LBC
2019 Approved
25 St James's Street London SW1A 1HA
Placement of tables, chairs, lighting and canopies at plaza level, creation of food prepa…
19/01439/LBC
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

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.