Benjamin Franklin House 36 Craven Street London WC2N 5NF Data via plota.co.uk

25/06751/LBC - Listed Building Consent Application Approved
Listed buildings

Proposal

Installation of fibre optic services throughout. Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
19 Sept 2025
✓
Approved
30 Oct 2025

Approved on 30 Oct 2025 · Delegated Decision · Last checked 18 Oct 2026

Documents 13

Decision & officer reports 2

PDF GRANT OF LISTED BUILDING CONSENT [PE] Decision Notice · 30 Oct 2025 View ↗ PDF DELEGATED REPORT Report · 30 Oct 2025 View ↗

Statements & assessments 2

PDF SITE SURVEY - DESIGN ACCESS Design and Access Statement · 19 Sept 2025 View ↗ PDF HERITAGE STATEMENT Heritage Statement · 19 Sept 2025 View ↗

Plans & drawings 1

PDF LOCATION PLAN Location Plan · 19 Sept 2025 View ↗

Application forms 1

PDF APPLICATIONFORMREDACTED Application Form · 19 Sept 2025 View ↗

Consultation & comments 3

PDF HISTORIC ENGLAND COMMENT Consultee Comment · 10 Oct 2025 View ↗ PDF HISTORIC ENGLAND COMMENT Consultee Comment · 10 Oct 2025 View ↗ PDF CNSLT-CONSULTEE CLOUD STD Background Papers · 1 Oct 2025 View ↗

Other documents 4

PDF ACK-GENERAL LETTER (G/P/C) Background Papers · 1 Oct 2025 View ↗ PDF SITE NOTICE 21 OR 28 DAYS IF T&C APPL. Background Papers · 1 Oct 2025 View ↗ PDF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION Other · 24 Sept 2025 View ↗ PDF SITELOCATION Background Papers · 19 Sept 2025 View ↗

All documents on the council site ↗

Site constraints 12

Grade I listed: 36, Craven Street Wc2
List entry 1066930 · The pin is inside its outline · 43 more listed buildings within 150 m (2 Grade I, 15 Grade II*, 25 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 43 with distances
Historic England ↗
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 Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.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, 8 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.
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 119 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 2 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
Listed Building Consent Application
Postcode
WC2N 5NF
Received
19 Sept 2025
Validated
19 Sept 2025
Ward
St James's
Case officer
Show
Target decision
14 Nov 2025
Decision
Application Permitted
Decision date
30 Oct 2025
Decision level
Delegated Decision
Applicant
Show
Freehold owner
Show

How this decision compares

Decided in 41 days from validation, 16 days faster than Westminster's median of 57 for listed building works. Approved, as 90% of listed building works here are.

49%decided within 8 weeks
90%approved
2,227decided in the last year

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

Public comments

No public comments yet.

Last counted 18 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-14344506
Planning Portal ref
PP-14344506
Comments by
29 Oct 2025
Site or press notice
8 Oct 2025
Env. assessment
No

Historical activity at this location

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

This property

Previous applications at this address

2025
Erection of scaffolding to carry out repairs and decoration to external elevations at fro…
25/00210/LBC
2024
Localised render plaster repairs and redecoration and minor joinery repairs (to modern fi…
24/04366/CLLB
2019 Approved
Installation of a wooden hanging sign from a metal bracket.
19/05354/LBC
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
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
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 Approved
Charing Cross Station Strand London WC2N 5HS
External alterations to Villiers Street facade including replacement of partially louvere…
25/04716/LBC
2025 Refused
34 Craven Street London WC2N 5NP
Erection of an independent roof over an existing yard accessed off Hungerford Lane.
25/03299/FULL
2025 Refused
18 - 21 Northumberland Avenue London WC2N 5EA
Retention of internally illuminated light box adjacent to entrance measuring 1m x 0.69m
25/03967/ADV
2025
Charing Cross Station Strand London WC2N 5HS
Internal floor remedial works within units 17 and 18 located in the south eastern corner…
25/03479/LBC
2025
34 Craven Street London WC2N 5NP
Erection of a free standing roof over an existing yard accessed off Hungerford Lane, a pr…
25/03600/CLLB
2025 Approved
Sherlock Holmes Public House 10 - 11 Northumberland Street London WC2N 5DB
Display of externally illuminated hanging sign measuring 0.9m X 1.35m, internally illumin…
25/01238/ADV
2025
7 Northumberland Street London WC2N 5DA
Variation of Condition 1 of planning permission dated 03 November 2023 (RN: 22/07843/FULL…
25/00369/FULL
2024
Charing Cross Hotel Strand London WC2N 5HX
Replacement of the existing fire escape staircase to the southwestern elevation of The Ch…
24/08710/LBC
2024
Charing Cross Hotel Strand London WC2N 5HX
Replacement of the existing fire escape staircase to the southwestern elevation of The Ch…
24/08709/FULL
2024
34 Craven Street London WC2N 5NP
Variation of condition 1 and 4 of planning permission dated 9th October 2024 (RN:23/04673…
24/08647/FULL
2024
7 Northumberland Street London WC2N 5DA
Use of the office building for the Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire (Use Class E(g)(i)
24/07734/CLOPUD
2024
Grand Buildings 1 - 3 Strand London WC2N 5HE
Installation of photovoltaic panels at roof level and associated works.
24/07337/FULL
2023 Approved
5 Strand London WC2N 5HR
Demolition of the remainder of the existing building and redevelopment to provide new hot…
23/05178/FULL
2018 Approved
14 Craven Street London WC2N 5PB
Installation of windows to rear at ground floor level.
18/08648/FULL
2018 Withdrawn
14 Craven Street London WC2N 5PB
Installation of replacement windows at second and third floor level. (Linked with 18/0864…
18/08641/LBC
2018 Withdrawn
14 Craven Street London WC2N 5PB
Installation of replacement windows at second and third floor level.(Linked with 18/08641…
18/08640/FULL
2018 Approved
Villiers Street London
Display of festive lights supported by catenary wires along Villiers Street.
18/08803/ADV
2018 Refused
47 Villiers Street London WC2N 6NE
Use of Watergate Walk for the placing of tables and chairs, umbrellas, grill servery, win…
18/06559/TCH
Westminster
Planning Authority Score
3.5/10
Below average
#221 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Other 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

Freehold boundary: © Crown copyright and database rights 2026, HM Land Registry. Polygons © Crown copyright and database rights 2026 Ordnance Survey 100026316. Conditions of use

Freehold owner: 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.