167 - 169 Great Portland Street London W1W 5PA Data via plota.co.uk

25/05704/FULL - Full Planning Permission Application Refused

Proposal

External works comprising alterations to ground floor entrance and shopfront including installation of electrical substation at ground floor level; installation of plant equipment at roof level; and associated works [RE-CONSULTATION: description of development updated to clarify that there is an electrical sub-station included in the proposals. Proposals are unchanged.] Data via plota.co.uk

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View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
14 Aug 2025
✓
Consultation
27 Aug 2025
✗
Refused
3 Oct 2025
Appeal
Not lodged

Refused on 3 Oct 2025 · Delegated Decision · Last checked 1 Nov 2026

Documents 28

Decision & officer reports 2

PDF REFUSAL-FULL PP [PE] Decision Notice · 3 Oct 2025 View ↗ PDF DELEGATED REPORT Report · 3 Oct 2025 View ↗

Statements & assessments 1

PDF 167-169 GREAT PORTLAND STREET - NOISE SURVEY AND PLANT NOISE ASSESS Background Papers · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗

Plans & drawings 12

PDF LOCATION PLAN Location Plan · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF EXISTING WEST AND NORTH ELEVATIONS Drawing · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF PROPOSED WEST AND NORTH ELEVATIONS Drawing · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF EXISTING SECTIONS Drawing · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF PROPOSED SECTIONS Drawing · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF 167-169 GREAT PORTLAND STREET - SUBSTATION BAY STUDY Drawing · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF EXISTING GF Drawing · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF PROPOSED GF PLAN Background Papers · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF EXISTING ROOF PLAN Drawing · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF PROPOSED ROOF PLAN Drawing · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF EXISTING EAST ELEVATION Drawing · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF PROPOSED EAST ELEVATIONS Drawing · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗

Application forms 1

PDF APPLICATION FORM REDACTED Application Form · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗

Consultation & comments 2

PDF NEIGHBOUR NOTIFICATION LETTER (21D) Background Papers · 27 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF NEIGHBOUR NOTIFICATION LETTER (21D) Background Papers · 22 Aug 2025 View ↗

Other documents 10

PDF SITE NOTICE 21 OR 28 DAYS IF T&C APPL. Background Papers · 27 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF ACK-GENERAL LETTER (G/P/C) Background Papers · 22 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF CNSLT-LA SOCIETY Background Papers · 22 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF CNSLT-LA SOCIETY Background Papers · 22 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF CNSLT-LA SOCIETY Background Papers · 22 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF SITE NOTICE 21 OR 28 DAYS IF T&C APPL. Background Papers · 22 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION ACKREC · 20 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF APPLICATION SUMMARY SHEET Background Papers · 20 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF ATTACHMENT SUMMARY Background Papers · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗ PDF SAV COVER LETTER Background Papers · 14 Aug 2025 View ↗

All documents on the council site ↗

Site constraints 11

Harley Street 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: 4A.2 Primrose Hill summit 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 ↗
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 ↗
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
8 listed buildings within 150 m; Scheduled monument 233 m away: A subterranean commercial ice-well (City of Westminster), Park Crescent West, W1; Registered park or garden 213 m away: Regent's Park; National infrastructure project 1924 m away: Thames Tideway Tunnel; 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

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
Full Planning Permission Application
Postcode
W1W 5PF
Received
14 Aug 2025
Validated
14 Aug 2025
Ward
West End
Case officer
Show
Target decision
9 Oct 2025
Decision
Application Refused
Decision date
3 Oct 2025
Decision level
Delegated Decision
Agent
Savills (UK) Limited

How this decision compares

Decided in 50 days from validation, 26 days faster than Westminster's median of 76 for full applications. Refused, as 14% of full applications here are.

35%decided within 8 weeks
86%approved
2,198decided in the last year

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

Public comments

No public comments yet.

41 neighbours consulted · Last counted 1 Nov 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-14252603
Planning Portal ref
PP-14252603
Comments by
24 Sept 2025
Site or press notice
27 Aug 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
External works comprising alterations to ground floor entrance and shopfront including in…
25/07527/FULL
2025 Refused
Amendments to planning permission dated 17 January 2025 (RN: 24/07573/FULL) for the: Exte…
25/04910/NMA
2024
External works comprising alterations to ground floor entrance; installation of plant equ…
24/07573/FULL
Within ~100m

Nearby activity

2025 Approved
50 Hallam Street London W1W 6JJ
Extension of party wall and replacement of single chimney of front chimney stack of 50 Ha…
25/03602/LBC
2025
Hallam Street London
Display of one non illuminated fascia sign measuring 0.375m x 1.015m located beneath Cave…
25/07298/ADV
2025 Withdrawn
Hallam House 56 - 60 Hallam Street London W1W 6JL
Demolition of existing roof plant room and erection of a single floor roof extension abov…
25/03713/FULL
2025
Hallam House 56 - 60 Hallam Street London W1W 6JL
Demolition of existing roof plant room and erection of a single floor roof extension abov…
25/04301/FULL
2025
Hampden House 2 Weymouth Street London W1W 5BT
Variation of Condition 1 and 12 of planning permission dated 11 October 2023 (RN:23/02110…
25/02173/FULL
2025
Royal Institute Of British Architects 66 Portland Place London W1B 1AD
Internal and external alterations including internal layout alterations, refurbishment an…
25/01205/LBC
2025
Royal Institute Of British Architects 66 Portland Place London W1B 1AD
Internal and external alterations including internal layout alterations, refurbishment an…
25/01204/FULL
2022 Withdrawn
First Floor Northumberland House 155-157 Great Portland Street London W1W 6QP
Installation of three air conditioning compressors on flat roof at rear first floor level.
22/00733/FULL
2024
Hallam House 56 - 60 Hallam Street London W1W 6JL
Installation of replacement access door to ground floor front elevation at south west cor…
24/07743/FULL
2024
Tennyson House 159 - 165 Great Portland Street London W1W 5PA
Alterations to ground floor entrance; installation of plant equipment at roof level; and…
24/07581/FULL
2024
Devon House 171 - 177 Great Portland Street London W1W 5PQ
Alterations to existing facade comprising reconfiguration of existing entrances and shopf…
24/07574/FULL
2024 Approved
Royal Institute Of British Architects 66 Portland Place London W1B 1AD
Provision of internal fire upgrade works
24/04471/LBC
2024
Northumberland House 155 - 157 Great Portland Street London W1W 6QP
Alterations to the entrance at ground floor level and installation of plant with screenin…
24/06018/FULL
2024
Royal Institute Of British Architects 66 Portland Place London W1B 1AD
Installation of 6No. antennas, 2no. 300mm dishes, 3no. cabinets and ancillary works there…
24/05117/LBC
2024
Royal Institute Of British Architects 66 Portland Place London W1B 1AD
Installation of 6No. antennas, 2no. 300mm dishes, 3no. cabinets and ancillary works there…
24/05116/FULL
2024 Approved
Flat 1 50 Hallam Street London W1W 6DE
Creation of an opening between the two properties (Linked 24/02952/FULL)
24/02953/LBC
2024 Refused
Flat 1 50 Hallam Street London W1W 6DE
Amalgamation of two separate residential units to form a single larger residential unit (…
24/02952/FULL
2024 Approved
Basement Premises Hallam Court 77 Hallam Street London W1W 5HB
Use of the lower ground floor as a self-contained studio flat at Hallam Court (Class C3)
24/01688/FULL
2024 Approved
Stone House 9 Weymouth Street London W1W 6DB
Use of the lower ground floor (part) and ground floor (part) as 3 flats (Class C3) along…
24/01747/FULL
2022 Refused
Telephone Kiosk Opposite Great Portland Street Station Great Portland Street London
Installation of one new BT Street Hub, incorporating two digital 75" LCD advert screens…
22/04778/FULL
2016 Withdrawn
66 Portland Place London W1B 1AD
Installation of a temporary public artwork on the front elevation from 12 September 2016…
16/06783/LBC
2016 Withdrawn
66 Portland Place London W1B 1AD
Installation of a temporary public artwork on the front elevation from 12 September 2016…
16/06787/FULL
2016 Approved
18 - 20 Bridford Mews London W1W 5BJ
Variation of conditions 1, 10 and 15 of planning permission dated 10 February 2015 (RN:14…
16/04867/FULL
2016 Refused
66 Portland Place London W1B 1AD
Erection of temporary structure on the raised forecourt on Portland Place for the period…
16/04308/FULL
2016 Approved
179 - 185 Great Portland Street London W1W 5LS
Display of non-illuminated fascia sign measuring 260mm x 2475mm.
16/01162/ADV
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