38 - 39 Strand London WC2N 5JB Data via plota.co.uk

26/06682/FULL - Full Planning Permission Application Pending
Extensions & alterationsCommercial premises

Proposal

Replacement of window with means of escape door. Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
30 Sept 2026
Decision
Expected by 25 Nov 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. Plota predicts a decision around 26 Nov 2026, from Westminster's recent extensions.

Comments are open until 25 Nov 2026

Comment on this application ↗

Documents 10

Statements & assessments 1

PDF DESIGN & ACCESS STATEMENT Design and Access Statement · 30 Sept 2026 View ↗

Plans & drawings 6

PDF PROPOSED Drawing · 30 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF ADDITIONAL PLANS Drawing · 30 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF DETAIL DRAWING Drawing · 30 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF ELEVATION (FRONT) - EXISTING Drawing · 30 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF ELEVATION (FRONT) - PROPOSED Drawing · 30 Sept 2026 View ↗ PDF BLOCK PLAN OF THE SITE Drawing · 30 Sept 2026 View ↗

Application forms 1

PDF APPLICATIONFORMREDACTED Application Form · 30 Sept 2026 View ↗

Consultation & comments 1

PDF TFL Consultee Comment · 27 Jul 2026 View ↗

Other documents 1

PDF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION Other · 5 Oct 2026 View ↗

All documents on the council site ↗

Site constraints 11

Trafalgar Square 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 Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.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, 50 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.
50 listed buildings within 150 m
Nearest: 22, Buckingham Street Wc2, Grade II, 34 m away · 4 Grade I, 20 Grade II*, 26 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 50 with distances
Historic England ↗
Also on the record
Registered park or garden 109 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 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.

Building

Floor area372 m² (4,004 sq ft)
Energy ratingD (asset rating 98)
UseA1/A2 Retail and Financial/Professional services
HeatingAir Conditioning

From the energy performance certificate lodged in July 2020, 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
Full Planning Permission Application
Postcode
WC2N 5JB
Received
30 Sept 2026
Validated
30 Sept 2026
Ward
St James's
Case officer
Show
Target decision
25 Nov 2026
Applicant
Show
Agent
G. Harwood Limited

Decision outlook

Day 42 of the 56-day target. Westminster usually decides extensions by day 55.

Day 4215 days to the predicted decision (day 57)
56%decided within 8 weeks
88%approved
1,938decided 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.

16 neighbours consulted · Last counted 10 Nov 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15180281
Planning Portal ref
PP-15180281
Comments by
25 Nov 2026
Site or press notice
4 Nov 2026
Env. assessment
No

Historical activity at this location

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

This property

Previous applications at this address

2024
Display of internally illuminated ATM surround measuring 1.5m x 0.88m
24/06316/ADV
Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025
Charing Cross Station Strand London WC2N 5HS
Alterations to shopfronts of retail units 17 and 18 within station concourse.
25/08336/LBC
2025 Approved
430 Strand London WC2R 0QN
Installation of a fixed internal screening panel to separate the coffee kiosk from the ma…
25/05921/LBC
2025 Approved
430 Strand London WC2R 0QN
Installation of a fixed internal screening panel to separate the coffee kiosk from the ma…
25/05920/FULL
2025 Approved
442 Strand London WC2R 0QU
Repainting of the existing metal framing of shopfront to Grey Brown; New entrance doors t…
25/05802/LBC
2025 Approved
442 Strand London WC2R 0QU
Alterations to shopfront including repainting of the existing metal framing of the shopfr…
25/05801/FULL
2025
440 Strand London WC2R 0QS
Replacement of escalators and adjoining floor finishes within ground floor reception space
25/07637/LBC
2025
430 Strand London WC2R 0QN
Installation of metal flower bed castings positioned along the front and rear of the prop…
25/07607/FULL
2025
430 Strand London WC2R 0QN
Installation of metal flower bed castings positioned along the front and rear of the prop…
25/07608/LBC
2025 Approved
2 Villiers Street London WC2N 6NQ
Installation of a new staircase over existing stairs to basement and new level gate secur…
25/06009/LBC
2025 Approved
2 Villiers Street London WC2N 6NQ
Alterations to ground floor elevation to provide a new shopfront.
25/05968/FULL
2025 Approved
2 Villiers Street London WC2N 6NQ
Alterations to ground floor elevation to provide a new shopfront. Installation of one ext…
25/05972/LBC
2025 Approved
2 Villiers Street London WC2N 6NQ
Display of one externally illuminated fascia sign (letters only) 2.96m x 0.7m and one ext…
25/05969/ADV
2025
8 Buckingham Street London WC2N 6BX
Proposed repainting of the front elevation.
25/07007/LBC
2025
20 Buckingham Street London WC2N 6EF
Change of use of house into a 1-bedroom flat at lower ground floor level and a 9-bed, 9-p…
25/06819/LBC
2025
Charing Cross Hotel Strand London WC2N 5HX
Door replacement and blocking up of 5 windows at ground, mezzaine and first floor levels…
25/06655/FULL
2025
Charing Cross Hotel Strand London WC2N 5HX
Door replacement and blocking up of 5 windows at ground, mezzaine and first floor levels…
25/06656/LBC
2025
20 Buckingham Street London WC2N 6EF
Change of use of house into a 1-bedroom flat at lower ground floor level and a 9-bed, 9-p…
25/06652/FULL
2025 Approved
Flat 5 19 Buckingham Street London WC2N 6EG
Retention of an air conditioning unit to lightwell wall at fourth floor level to north we…
25/05227/LBC
2025 Approved
Charing Cross Station Strand London WC2N 5HS
External alterations to Villiers Street facade including replacement of partially louvere…
25/04716/LBC
2025 Refused
20 Buckingham Street London WC2N 6EF
Internal alterations including the addition of two en-suites to the layout approved under…
25/04279/LBC
2019 Approved
2 - 3 Robert Street London WC2N 6BH
Use of part of first floor as a spa facility (Class D2 use) in association with spa facil…
19/08065/FULL
2019 Approved
2 - 3 Robert Street London WC2N 6BH
Use of part of first floor as spa facility (Class D2) use in association with use approve…
19/08066/LBC
2019 Approved
Charing Cross Hotel Strand London WC2N 5HX
Installation of 4 small rawl eyebolts on the Villiers St elevation of the Amba Hotel for…
19/07783/LBC
2019 Approved
25 Villiers Street London WC2N 6ND
Use of an area of the public highway measuring 3.3m x 0.67m for the placing of one table…
19/06675/TCH
2019 Approved
2-3 Robert Street London WC2N 6BH
Internal alterations including the removal of a curved base to staircase in lower basemen…
19/06468/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

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.