5 Leicester Place London WC2H 7BX Data via plota.co.uk

26/04681/EEN - Ecclesiastical Exemption Notification Decided
Schools, care & communityExtensions & alterations

Proposal

Addition of one spotlight to light new artwork at gallery level to mirror existing fitting on opposite side. Two spotlights on columns near organ, two spotlights rear of gallery level column. Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
9 Jul 2026
Decision
Target date was 6 Aug 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. Plota predicted a decision around 29 Oct 2026; it is now day 112.

Documents 4

Decision & officer reports 2

PDF NO OBJECTION - ECCLES. EXEMPTION [PE] Decision Notice · 29 Jul 2026 View ↗ PDF DELEGATED REPORT Report · 29 Jul 2026 View ↗

Other documents 2

PDF ACK-GENERAL LETTER (G/P/C) Background Papers · 28 Jul 2026 View ↗ PDF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION Other · 14 Jul 2026 View ↗

All documents on the council site ↗

Site constraints 11

Grade II* listed: Church of Notre Dame de France
List entry 1376623 · The pin is inside its outline · 36 more listed buildings within 150 m (1 Grade II*, 35 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 36 with distances
Historic England ↗
Leicester 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 Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.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.
Protected view corridor: 2B.1 Parliament Hill oak tree to the Palace of Westminster
Inside the landmark viewing corridor of a protected vista. A building that rises above the corridor's threshold height should be refused. How high that is depends on where along the view the site is.
The London Plan (policy HC4) designates strategic views, and the Mayor's London View Management Framework (March 2012) gives 13 of them a protected vista toward St Paul's Cathedral, the Palace of Westminster or the Tower of London. A vista has a threshold height that rises or falls with the line of sight. In the landmark viewing corridor, a building above it would harm the view and should be refused. In the wider setting consultation area around the corridor, a building above it is referred for consultation and its effect on the view is judged. The threshold changes along each view and is set out in the framework. A revised framework is out for consultation until 4 December 2026 and is not yet in force.
London View Management Framework ↗
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.
National infrastructure project 443 m away: Thames Tideway Tunnel
The site is 443 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, 9 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 ↗
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
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 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

Council
Westminster
Application type
Ecclesiastical Exemption Notification
Postcode
WC2H 7BX
Received
9 Jul 2026
Validated
9 Jul 2026
Ward
St James's
Case officer
Show
Target decision
6 Aug 2026
Decision level
Delegated Decision
Applicant
Show
Leaseholder
Show

Decision outlook

Day 112, past the statutory target. 84% of community buildings 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 28 Oct 2026.

Day 11256 days past the 56-day target
56%decided within 8 weeks
94%approved
67decided in the last year

Plota live figures for community buildings decided by Westminster in the last twelve months, from validation. Westminster decision record →

Public comments

No public comments yet.

Last counted 28 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

2021 Approved
Repair and restoration of the external and internal sets of entrance gates.
21/06275/EEN
2018 Approved
Detailed drawings and sections of the proposed new windows and doors pursuant to conditio…
18/09104/ADFULL
2018 Approved
Like for like replacement of some timber framed windows and doors and installation of aco…
18/06716/FULL
2018 Approved
Replacement of timber framed windows and doors and installation of acoustic glazing to al…
18/05611/LBC
2017 Approved
Replacement of some windows and installation of acoustic glazing to all windows to the fr…
17/02880/LBC
2017 Approved
Replacement of some windows and installation of acoustic glazing to all windows to the fr…
17/02879/FULL
2017 Approved
Erection of conservatory style extension at roof level and associated alterations. (Linke…
17/02748/LBC
2017 Approved
Erection of conservatory style extension at roof level. (Linked 17/02748/LBC)
17/02747/FULL
2016 Withdrawn
Detailed drawings of conservatory pursuant to condition 3 of listed building permission d…
16/09188/ADLBC
2016 Approved
Construction of new sixth floor level to existing side tower wing of church building and…
16/04613/FULL
2016 Approved
Construction of new sixth floor level to existing side tower wing of church building and…
16/04614/LBC
Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025
Victory House 14 Leicester Square London WC2H 7NG
Display of three internally illuminated fascia signs measuring 0.7m x 5.8m, 0.7m x 2.34m…
25/08195/ADV
2025 Approved
1 Leicester Place London WC2H 7BP
Removal and replacement of 3 existing antennas with 3 new antennas; 15 RRUs, 1 GPS nodule…
25/05093/FULL
2025 Approved
5 Newport Place London WC2H 7JN
Use of an area of the public highway measuring 2.2m x 2.8m for the placing of 3 tables an…
25/05901/TCH
2025
3 Cranbourn Street London WC2H 7AL
Display of internally illuminated fascia sign measuring 0.275m x 1.22m.
25/07633/ADV
2025
20 - 21 Leicester Square London WC2H 7JX
Display of two internally illuminated fascia signs measuring 1m x 3m, 0.345m x 0.775m. [S…
25/07440/ADV
2025 Approved
Unit 1 Ground Floor 1 - 4 Leicester Square London WC2H 7NA
Display of internally illuminated fascia sign measuring 2.5m x 1m and extension of existi…
25/06614/ADV
2025 Withdrawn
Unit 1 Ground Floor 1 - 4 Leicester Square London WC2H 7NA
Installation of vinyl graphics, metal works, and alterations to signage in relation to th…
25/06613/FULL
2025
Basement 46 Gerrard Street London W1D 5QH
Variation of condition 1 of planning permission dated 29 January 2018 (RN: 17/10562/FULL)…
25/07095/FULL
2025
20 - 21 Leicester Square London WC2H 7JX
Display of two internally illuminated fascia signs measuring 1m x 3m, 0.345m x 0.775m and…
25/06930/ADV
2025
20 - 21 Leicester Square London WC2H 7JX
Alterations to shopfront including replacement of existing louvres and the extension of t…
25/06929/FULL
2025 Approved
The Hippodrome 10 - 14 Cranbourn Street London WC2H 7JH
Display of an externally illuminated hanging sign measuring 1.64m X 1.56m. Linked with 25…
25/04403/ADV
2025 Approved
Basement And Ground Floor Unit 2B 10 - 14 Cranbourn Street London WC2H 7AG
Installation of a signage to the external elevation of the building fronting on to Cranbo…
25/03911/LBC
2025
1 Leicester Place London WC2H 7BP
Variation of condition 1 of planning permission dated 12 February 2015 (RN24/05639/FULL)…
25/06576/FULL
2025
32 Wardour Street London W1D 6JJ
Installation of a new shopfront and associated external works including step lighting (si…
25/06591/FULL
2025
32 Wardour Street London W1D 6JJ
Display of three halo illuminated fascia signs measuring 4.30m x 0.40m, 3.20m x 0.30m and…
25/06592/ADV
2025 Approved
Cranbourn Street London
Display of two internally illuminated star nets each measuring 10.3m x 9.7m x 0.75m hung…
25/04555/ADV
2025
3 Cranbourn Street London WC2H 7AL
Display of externally illuminated A2 off sets VUE letters halo illuminated and B2 off set…
25/06306/ADV
2025 Approved
39 Gerrard Street London W1D 5QD
The installation of new air bricks to the rear elevation, installation of a sprinkler sys…
25/03800/LBC
2025 Approved
39 Gerrard Street London W1D 5QD
Continued triple / alternative use of the 2nd floor as either a restaurant Class E (b), o…
25/03799/FULL
2025 Refused
5 Newport Place London WC2H 7JN
Display of LED screen menu board measuring 0.80m x 0.50m attached to shopfront at ground…
25/05326/ADV
2022 Approved
32 Gerrard Street London W1D 6JA
Display of halo-illuminated semi-circular signs in window arches measuring 1.215m x 2.435…
22/06590/ADV
2022 Approved
Leicester Square London WC2H 7LE
Display of a three dimensional artwork 'Catch Me If You Can' on the Northern terrace flow…
22/04819/ADV
2021 Approved
Basement And Ground Floor Unit 2B 10-14 Cranbourn Street London WC2H 7AG
Use of an area of the public highway measuring 12.1m x 2.5m for the placing of eight tabl…
21/08768/TCH
2022
Gerrard Building 32-35 Gerrard Street London W1D 6JA
Installation of proposed additions to existing base station at rooftop level.
22/04940/FULL
2022 Refused
Victory House 14 Leicester Square London WC2H 7NG
Alterations to existing shopfront comprising replacement of existing windows and doors.
22/03355/FULL
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.