Grand Buildings 1 - 3 Strand London WC2N 5HE Data via plota.co.uk

26/01434/FULL - Full Planning Permission Application Approved
Change of useNew homesCommercial premises

Proposal

Use of Tower 03 at 7th and 8th floor level as a residential maisonette (Class C3) and use of Tower 04 at 7th and 8th floor level as offices (Class E). Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
5 Mar 2026
✓
Approved
20 Apr 2026

Approved on 20 Apr 2026 · Delegated Decision · Last checked 24 Sept 2026

Documents 17

Decision & officer reports 2

PDF GRANT OF FULL PP [PE] Decision Notice · 20 Apr 2026 View ↗ PDF DELEGATED REPORT Report · 20 Apr 2026 View ↗

Statements & assessments 2

PDF 1 STRAND - PLANNING STATEMENT Planning Statement · 5 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF ONE STRAND - FIRE STATEMENT Background Papers · 5 Mar 2026 View ↗

Plans & drawings 5

PDF LOCATION PLAN Location Plan · 5 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF EXISTING SEVENTH FLOOR PLAN (USE SWAP)-B Drawing · 5 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF PROPOSED SEVENTH FLOOR PLAN (USE SWAP)-B Drawing · 5 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF EXISTING EIGHTH FLOOR PLAN (USE SWAP)-B Drawing · 5 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF PROPOSED EIGHTH FLOOR PLAN (USE SWAP)-B Drawing · 5 Mar 2026 View ↗

Application forms 1

PDF APPLICATION FORM REDACTED Application Form · 5 Mar 2026 View ↗

Consultation & comments 1

PDF NEIGHBOUR NOTIFICATION LETTER (21D) Background Papers · 13 Mar 2026 View ↗

Other documents 6

PDF ACK-GENERAL LETTER (G/P/C) Background Papers · 13 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF SITE NOTICE 21 OR 28 DAYS IF T&C APPL. Background Papers · 13 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF ECNSLT-INTERNAL CONSULTS Background Papers · 13 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF ECNSLT-INTERNAL CONSULTS Background Papers · 13 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF CNSLT-LA SOCIETY Background Papers · 13 Mar 2026 View ↗ PDF ATTACHMENT SUMMARY Background Papers · 5 Mar 2026 View ↗

All documents on the council site ↗

Associated applications 2

Site constraints 13

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 Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.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.
In flood zones plus climate change
Inside the extent flood zones 2 and 3 could reach with climate change: the Central allowance for the 2080s on rivers, the Upper End allowance for sea level rise to 2125. From the sea. Defences are not counted.
The Environment Agency flood map for planning. Councils use it to decide when a flood risk assessment and the sequential test are needed. It is indicative and does not show whether a particular property will flood.
Flood map ↗
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, about 13 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.
44 listed buildings within 150 m of the postcode pin
Nearest: Northumberland House (Victoria Buildings), Grade II, about 49 m from the postcode pin · 4 Grade I, 6 Grade II*, 33 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 44 with distances
Historic England ↗
Registered park or garden about 81 m away: Trafalgar 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 ↗
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. The pin for this application is the centre of its postcode rather than the building, so distances to nearby designations are measured from the postcode and can be out by the width of the postcode area. 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
Full Planning Permission Application
Postcode
WC2N 5HE
Received
5 Mar 2026
Validated
5 Mar 2026
Ward
St James's
Case officer
Show
Target decision
30 Apr 2026
Decision
Application Permitted
Decision date
20 Apr 2026
Decision level
Delegated Decision
Agent
Savills (UK) Ltd

How this decision compares

Decided in 46 days from validation, 11 days faster than Westminster's median of 57 for changes of use. Approved, as 83% of changes of use here are.

48%decided within 8 weeks
83%approved
165decided in the last year

Plota live figures for changes of use decided by Westminster in the last twelve months, from validation. Westminster decision record →

Public comments

No public comments yet.

24 neighbours consulted · Last counted 24 Sept 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-14750864
Planning Portal ref
PP-14750864
Comments by
15 Apr 2026
Site or press notice
25 Mar 2026
Env. assessment
No

Historical activity at this location

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

This property

Previous applications at this address

2025
Amendments to planning permission dated 10th December 2024 (RN:24/07337/FULL ) for Instal…
25/02399/NMA
2024
Installation of photovoltaic panels at roof level and associated works.
24/07337/FULL
2022 Refused
The installation of 6no. antennas, 1no 300mm dish, 1no. 600mm dish, 3no. equipment cabine…
22/05375/FULL
2017 Approved
Variation of condition 5 dated 06 January 2016 (RN: 15/10570/FULL) for Use of the public…
17/10940/FULL
2016 Refused
Display of a double-sided advertisement panel consisting of 2 LED screens both measuring…
16/03235/ADV
2016 Approved
Details of secure cycle storage pursuant to Condition 4 of planning permission dated 27 J…
16/02415/ADFULL
2016 Approved
External alterations on front elevation at ground floor level including the replacement o…
16/01367/FULL
2016 Approved
Operational management plan for Class D1 use pursuant to Condition 5 of planning permissi…
16/01735/ADFULL
2016 Withdrawn
Installation of openable shopfront on Strand frontage.
16/00097/FULL
Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025
1 Whitehall London SW1A 2DD
Display of one externally illuminated projecting sign measuring 0.9m x 0.8m. (Retrospecti…
25/07364/ADV
2025
Basement And Ground Floor 7 Whitehall London SW1A 2DD
Display of an externally illuminated hanging sign measuring 0.63m X 0.63m
25/07244/ADV
2025
Benjamin Franklin House 36 Craven Street London WC2N 5NF
Installation of Fibre Optic Services throughout.
25/06751/LBC
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
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
8 Northumberland Avenue London WC2N 5BY
Internal alterations including refurbishment and upgrade of existing room 403; replacemen…
25/02558/LBC
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
460 Strand London WC2R 0RG
Display of a non- illuminated fascia sign measuring 2.03m x 0.68m on new white tiled fasc…
25/01505/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
2025
Benjamin Franklin House 36 Craven Street London WC2N 5NF
Erection of scaffolding to carry out repairs and decoration to external elevations at fro…
25/00210/LBC
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 Approved
1 Northumberland Avenue London WC2N 5BW
Display for a temporary period of six months of a non-illuminated estate agent board at t…
24/07881/AD7
2024 Approved
9 Whitehall London SW1A 2DE
Display for a temporary period of six months of a non-illuminated 'to let'/ 'for sale' bo…
24/07882/AD7
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
2023 Approved
5 Strand London WC2N 5HR
Demolition of the remainder of the existing building and redevelopment to provide new hot…
23/05178/FULL
2024 Approved
Sherlock Holmes Public House 10 - 11 Northumberland Street London WC2N 5DB
Use of an area of the public highway measuring 7.3m x 1.7m narrowing to 0.9m of the publi…
24/04583/TCH
2024 Approved
15 Craven Street London WC2N 5PB
Formation of roof access window and installation of mansafe system at rear fourth floor l…
24/02941/LBC
2024 Approved
15 Craven Street London WC2N 5PB
Formation of roof access window and installation of mansafe system at rear fourth floor l…
24/02940/FULL
2024
Flat 3 22 Northumberland Avenue London WC2N 5AP
Replacement of windows and a French door.
24/04531/FULL
2016 Approved
14 Craven Street London WC2N 5PB
Creation of new roof terrace on roof of first floor rear extension.
16/12251/FULL
2017 Approved
455 Strand London WC2R 0RH
Display of 2 no. internallly illuminated fascia signs (letters and logo fascia) measuring…
17/02535/ADV
2016 Approved
14 Craven Street London WC2N 5PB
Creation of new roof terrace to rear at fourth floor level.
16/12250/LBC
2016 Approved
14 Craven Street London WC2N 5PB
Creation of new roof terrace to rear at fourth floor level.
16/12249/FULL
2016 Approved
Basement And Ground Floor Unit D Grand Buildings Northumberland Avenue London WC2N 5HR
Use of an area of the public highway measuring 8.22m x 0.9m for the placing of four table…
16/07052/TCH
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