Basement And Ground Floor 21 Whitcomb Street London WC2H 7HA Data via plota.co.uk
25/06750/ADV - Advert Application (ADV)
Approved
Proposal
Display of non illuminated hanging sign measuring 0.65m x 0.65m Data via plota.co.uk
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View original council record ↗Last checked
Application progress
✓
Received
19 Sept 2025
✓
Validated
21 Oct 2025
✓
Approved
7 Nov 2025
Approved on 7 Nov 2025 · Delegated Decision · Last checked 12 Oct 2026
Documents 12
Decision & officer reports 2
Plans & drawings 2
Application forms 2
Other documents 6
PDF
ACK-GENERAL LETTER (G/P/C)
Background Papers · 5 Nov 2025
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PDF
RECEIPT OF APPLICATION
Other · 25 Sept 2025
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PDF
1ST INVALID LETTER
Background Papers · 25 Sept 2025
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PDF
ATTACHMENTSUMMARY
Background Papers · 19 Sept 2025
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IMG
OLD SIGN THAT WILL BE REMOVED
Photo · 19 Sept 2025
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PDF
NEW STORE-SIGNAGE-V2-140425.PDF (1)
Photo · 19 Sept 2025
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Site constraints 13
St James's 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.
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 Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.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: 2A.2 Parliament 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. Also in the corridor of 2B.1 Parliament Hill oak tree to the Palace of Westminster.
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.
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.
National infrastructure project 273 m away: Thames Tideway Tunnel
The site is 273 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, 131 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.
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.
37 listed buildings within 150 m
Nearest: 12-14, Suffolk Street Sw1, Grade II*, 15 m away · 6 Grade I, 10 Grade II*, 21 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 37 with distances
- 15 m12-14, Suffolk Street Sw1Grade II*
- 16 m15 Suffolk StreetGrade II
- 28 m8, 9 and 11, Suffolk Street Sw1Grade II*
- 32 mSainsbury Wing at the National GalleryGrade I
- 36 m3-13, Whitcomb Street Wc2Grade II
- 38 m6 1/2 and 7, Suffolk Street Sw1Grade II*
- 45 m6, Suffolk Street Sw1Grade II*
- 49 m18, Suffolk Street Sw1Grade I
- 49 mThe Haymarket Theatre (Theatre Royal)Grade I
- 49 m5 Lampstandards Numbered 1 to 5 (Consecutive)Grade II
- 51 m5, Suffolk Street Sw1Grade II*
- 54 m20-22, Suffolk Street Sw1Grade II*
- 56 mFormer United University ClubGrade II
- 58 mNational GalleryGrade I
- 64 m1-4, SUFFOLK PLACE SW1 (See details for further address information)Grade II*
- 67 m7, Haymarket Sw1Grade II
- 69 mHarold Pinter TheatreGrade II
- 71 mWestminster Reference LibraryGrade II
- 72 mBurberry'sGrade II
- 87 m6, Panton Street Sw1Grade II
- 89 m4, Haymarket Sw1Grade II*
- 91 m5, Panton Street Sw1Grade II
- 92 m2 Lampstandards Numbered 1 and 2Grade II
- 100 mClareville HouseGrade II
- 104 mK6 Telephone KioskGrade II
- 109 mNational Portrait GalleryGrade I
- 116 mThe former Carlton TheatreGrade II
- 116 mHer Majesty's TheatreGrade II*
- 116 mCanada House (Including the Former Royal College of Physicians)Grade II*
- 117 m8, Oxendon Street Sw1Grade II
- 119 mStatue of James Ii in Front of National Gallery West WingGrade I
- 120 mOceanic HouseGrade II
- 124 mNew Zealand HouseGrade II
- 130 mPrince of Wales TheatreGrade II
- 133 mStatue of George Iii on Island at Junction With Pall Mall EastGrade II
- 135 m2 Lampstandards Numbered 2 and 3 by George Iii StatueGrade II
- 137 m1, Charing Cross Road Wc2Grade II
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 139 m away: Trafalgar Square; 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
- Advert Application (ADV)
- Postcode
- WC2H 7HA
- Received
- 19 Sept 2025
- Validated
- 21 Oct 2025
- Ward
- St James's
- Case officer
- Show
- Target decision
- 16 Dec 2025
- Decision
- Application Permitted
- Decision date
- 7 Nov 2025
- Decision level
- Delegated Decision
- Applicant
- Show
How this decision compares
Decided in 17 days from validation, 25 days faster than Westminster's median of 42 for signs and adverts. Approved, as 83% of signs and adverts here are.
This one17d
Council42d
UK55d
67%decided within 8 weeks
83%approved
1,207decided in the last year
Plota live figures for signs and adverts decided by Westminster in the last twelve months, from validation. Westminster decision record →
Public comments
No public comments yet.
Last counted 12 Oct 2026
Consultation & key dates
- Alt. reference
- PP-14331092
- Planning Portal ref
- PP-14331092
- Env. assessment
- No
Historical activity at this location
25 nearby applications on record - archival context, not part of the live application.
Within ~100m
Nearby activity
2025
Approved
1 - 4 Suffolk Street London SW1Y 4HG
Internal works comprising; first floor level creation of new door opening and erection of…
2025
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Installation of new ventilation plant on the second floor roof of the Conservation Studio…
2025
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Installation of new ventilation plant on the second floor roof of the Conservation Studio…
2025
Approved
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Internal alterations to the Lecture Theatre and Green Room to support new AV/IT equipment…
2025
Approved
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Display of floor vinyl graphics for a temporary period from 09 June 2025 to 01 September…
2025
Theatre Royal 8 Haymarket London SW1Y 4HT
To provide additional female WCs to the first floor of the Theatre by converting an exist…
2025
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Installation of external cornice lighting along the parapet of the Wilkins building and t…
2025
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Installation of external cornice lighting along the parapet of the Wilkins building and t…
2025
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Removal of the blockwork partitions to the south to open up the space; new wall to former…
2024
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Display of two internally illuminated digital screen totem signs each measuring 0.781m X…
2024
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Display of two non illuminated carved fascia signs measuring 0.59m x 0.97m, 0.14m x 5.16m…
2024
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
External stone carved letterings to main entrance on Orange Street. (Linked with 24/08317…
2024
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Installation of ventilation air handling unit on the roof of the Education Centre. (Linke…
2024
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Formation of a new opening from the Wilkins Building into the lightwell to accommodate a…
2024
Refused
15 Whitcomb Street London WC2H 7HA
Display of internal illuminated fascia sign measuring 0.5m X 3m.
2024
Approved
17 Whitcomb Street London WC2H 7HA
Display of externally illuminated projecting sign measuring 500 mm x 400 mm.
2024
Approved
1 - 4 Suffolk Street London SW1Y 4HG
Installation of secondary glazing to the front, side and courtyard elevations.
2024
Approved
17 Whitcomb Street London WC2H 7HA
Display of a non-illuminated projecting sign measuring 50cm x 50cm and a sticker on the i…
2024
Approved
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Display of advertisements on two sections of hoarding measuring 3m x 28.88m and 3m x 8.36…
2023
Approved
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Refurbishment of existing Getty bookshop including removal of existing shop merchandising…
2019
Refused
1 Suffolk Place London SW1Y 4HX
Retrospective installation of four retractable awnings at ground floor level on Haymarket…
2020
Approved
11-12 Haymarket London SW1Y 4BP
Display of three externally illuminated fascia signs measuring 0.4m x 1.091m, two externa…
2019
Approved
The National Gallery Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DN
Clean and repair Portland stone to North, South, East, and West facade of the Wilkins bui…
2019
Refused
11-12 Haymarket London SW1Y 4BP
Display of three externally illuminated fascia signs measuring 0.4m x 1.09m, two internal…
2019
Approved
19 Whitcomb Street London WC2H 7HA
Use of ground floor unit as office (Class B1), installation of new shopfront and gates.
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
Freehold boundary: © Crown copyright and database rights 2026, HM Land Registry. Polygons © Crown copyright and database rights 2026 Ordnance Survey 100026316. Conditions of use
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Basement And Ground Floor 21 Whitcomb Street London WC2H 7HA
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