Covent Garden Exchange 30 - 34 Bow Street London WC2E 7AT Data via plota.co.uk
26/04374/TELCOM - Applic. to determine telecom. equipment
Refused
Proposal
Three replacement antennas up to 30.3m high affixed to the telephone exchange; replacement of one 26.5m stub tower on roof of telephone exchange building, which will host three new antennas at a maximum height of 25.9m; and additional and removal of ancillary equipment at a high level. Data via plota.co.uk
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View original council record ↗Last checked
Application progress
✓
Received
2 Jul 2026
✗
Refused
26 Aug 2026
Appeal
Not lodged
Refused on 26 Aug 2026 · Delegated Decision · Last checked 26 Aug 2026
Documents 15
Decision & officer reports 3
Statements & assessments 1
Plans & drawings 3
Application forms 1
Consultation & comments 1
Other documents 6
PDF
ACK-GENERAL LETTER (G/P/C)
Background Papers · 27 Jul 2026
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PDF
CNSLT-LA SOCIETY
Background Papers · 27 Jul 2026
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PDF
CNSLT-LA SOCIETY
Background Papers · 27 Jul 2026
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PDF
SITE NOTICE 21 OR 28 DAYS IF T&C APPL.
Background Papers · 27 Jul 2026
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PDF
COVER LETTER V1
Background Papers · 2 Jul 2026
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PDF
RECEIPT OF APPLICATION
Other · 2 Jul 2026
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Site constraints 11
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 Named permitted development rights are withdrawn here.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.
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 269 m away: Thames Tideway Tunnel
The site is 269 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, 273 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.
41 listed buildings within 150 m
Nearest: Former Bow Street Magistrates Court and Police Station, Grade II, 18 m away · 2 Grade I, 1 Grade II*, 38 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 41 with distances
- 18 mFormer Bow Street Magistrates Court and Police StationGrade II
- 25 mRoyal Opera HouseGrade I
- 31 mFloral Hall (Paul Hamlyn Hall)Grade II
- 33 mCrown Court Church (Church of Scotland)Grade II
- 47 mThe Fortune TheatreGrade II
- 60 mLamp post outside 24 Russell StreetGrade II
- 63 mLamp post opposite Theatre Royal, outside 29 Russell StreetGrade II
- 73 m2 Bollards Either Side of Junction With Floral StreetGrade II
- 73 mSouthernmost K2 Telephone Kiosk in Group to North of Bow Street Magistrates CourtGrade II
- 74 m7 and 8, Bow Street Wc2Grade II
- 74 mK2 Telephone Kiosk Adjacent to Southernmost in Group to North of Bow Street Magistrates CourtGrade II
- 75 mCentral K2 Telephone Kiosk in Group to North of Bow Street Magistrates CourtGrade II
- 75 mTheatre Royal Drury Lane and Attached Sir Augustus Harris Memorial Drinking FountainGrade I
- 76 mK2 Telephone Kiosk Adjacent to Northernmost Kiosk in Group to North of Bow Street Magistrates CourtGrade II
- 77 mNorthernmost K2 Telephone Kiosk in Group to North of Bow Street Magistrates CourtGrade II
- 78 m52, Floral Street Wc2Grade II
- 83 mLamp post outside 4-6 Russell StreetGrade II
- 84 m19 AND 20, BOW STREET WC2 (See details for further address information)Grade II
- 88 m11-19, Broad Court Wc2Grade II
- 88 m8, Russell Street Wc2Grade II
- 94 mMortuary, Lodge and Linking Walls and Gate Piers of Drury Lane GardensGrade II
- 95 m38, Wellington StreetGrade II
- 98 mLamp post outside 34-43 Russell StreetGrade II
- 101 m46 and 47, Floral Street Wc2Grade II
- 101 mLondon Transport MuseumGrade II
- 102 mThe Sun Tavern Public HouseGrade II
- 105 mCovent Garden Market BuildingGrade II*
- 107 m41 and 43, Wellington Street Wc2Grade II
- 111 m60 and 61, Long AcreGrade II
- 115 m42 and 43, Drury Lane Wc2Grade II
- 115 mLamp post outside 11-14 Hanover PlaceGrade II
- 117 m30, Wellington Street Wc2Grade II
- 122 m13, Tavistock Street Wc2Grade II
- 122 m15, Tavistock Street Wc2Grade II
- 125 m11, TAVISTOCK STREET WC2 (See details for further address information)Grade II
- 128 mBruce HouseGrade II
- 134 m48-52, Long Acre Wc2Grade II
- 135 mNag's Head Public HouseGrade II
- 141 m7 Lampstandards Numbered 1 to 7 (Consecutive)Grade II
- 146 m78 and 79, Long Acre Wc2Grade II
- 150 m20-26, Wellington Street Wc2Grade II
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.
Conservation area 15 m away: Covent Garden
The edge of the area; work outside it can still affect its setting.
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.
Also on the record
Heritage at risk 63 m away: Bow Street Magistrates Court and Police Station, Bow Street; 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
- Applic. to determine telecom. equipment
- Postcode
- WC2E 7AT
- Received
- 2 Jul 2026
- Validated
- 2 Jul 2026
- Ward
- St James's
- Case officer
- Show
- Target decision
- 26 Aug 2026
- Decision
- Application Refused
- Decision date
- 26 Aug 2026
- Decision level
- Delegated Decision
- Applicant
- Show
- Agent
- Pegasus Planning Group Ltd
How this decision compares
Decided in 55 days from validation, about the council's usual 52 days. Refused, as 15% of prior approvals here are.
This one55d
Council52d
UK34d
80%decided within 8 weeks
85%approved
89decided in the last year
Plota live figures for prior approvals decided by Westminster in the last twelve months, from validation. Westminster decision record →
Public comments
1comment received
1 objecting
88 neighbours consulted · Last counted 26 Aug 2026
Consultation & key dates
- Alt. reference
- PP-15025379
- Planning Portal ref
- PP-15025379
- Comments by
- 26 Aug 2026
- Site or press notice
- 5 Aug 2026
- 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
Fortune Theatre Russell Street London WC2B 5HH
Installation of floral arrangement to exterior building entrance for temporary Christmas…
2025
Approved
Royal Opera House Covent Garden London WC2E 9DD
Fixing of two new antennas to existing equipment poles, installation of their associated…
2025
Approved
Royal Opera House Covent Garden London WC2E 9DD
Fixing of two new antennas to existing equipment poles, installation of their associated…
2025
Fortune Theatre Russell Street London WC2B 5HH
Display of non-illuminated five red hanging stars on the exterior under canopy measuring…
2025
Fortune Theatre Russell Street London WC2B 5HH
Installation of non-illuminated five red hanging stars on the exterior under our canopy m…
2025
Royal Opera House Covent Garden London WC2E 9DD
Display of temporary installation of Christmas Installation on the Davis Terrace at Royal…
2025
Approved
Drury House 34 - 43 Russell Street London WC2B 5HA
Variation of condition 1 of planning permission dated 21 November 2024 (RN: 24/03191/FULL…
2025
Royal Opera House Covent Garden London WC2E 9DD
Internal fit-out works to the ground floor, shopfront alterations and installation of two…
2025
Royal Opera House Covent Garden London WC2E 9DD
Internal fit-out works to the ground floor, shopfront alterations and installation of two…
2025
Royal Opera House Covent Garden London WC2E 9DD
Display of a non-illuminated projecting sign measuring 0.6m x 0.6m, non-illuminated fasci…
2025
Approved
YSC Building 50 Floral Street London WC2E 9DA
Display of two non-illuminated fascia signs each measuring 0.248m x 0.9m and 0.075m x 0.8…
2025
24 Russell Street London WC2B 5HF
Display of one halo illuminated fascia sign measuring 0.412m x 1.713m and one externally…
2025
Approved
The Nomad Hotel London 28 Bow Street London WC2E 7AW
Remedial work to chimney stacks.
2025
YSC Building 50 Floral Street London WC2E 9DA
Display of externally illuminated sign on scaffolding fronting Floral Street and external…
2025
YSC Building 50 Floral Street London WC2E 9DA
Display of externally illuminated hoarding sign measuring 3.3m X 0.45m fronting Floral St…
2025
9 - 12 Bow Street London WC2E 7AA
Display of a temporary low-level non-illuminated advertisement banner on scaffolding fron…
2025
24 Russell Street London WC2B 5HF
Display of internally illuminated fascia sign measuring 1.641m X 0.369m and internally il…
2024
Approved
YSC Building 50 Floral Street London WC2E 9DA
Use of the existing flat roofs at second and fourth floors for amenity purposes, alongsid…
2024
Fortune Theatre Russell Street London WC2B 5HH
Replacement of existing plant located at roof level of the building with new plant. (Link…
2024
Fortune Theatre Russell Street London WC2B 5HH
Replacement of existing plant located at roof level of the building with new plant. (Link…
2019
Approved
Development Site At Former Police Station And Magistrate's Court Bow Street London
Installation of external lighting to the Former Bow Street Magistrate's Court and Police…
2019
Approved
Development Site At Former Police Station And Magistrate's Court Bow Street London
Installation of external lighting to the Former Bow Street Magistrate's Court and Police…
2019
Refused
Development Site At Former Police Station And Magistrate's Court Bow Street London
Erection of scaffolding affixed to the front facade (Bow Street elevation) facilitating t…
2019
Refused
Development Site At Former Police Station And Magistrate's Court Bow Street London
Display of advertisement on hoarding measuring 55.2m x 18.6m and an externally illuminate…
2019
Refused
44 Wellington Street London WC2E 7BD
Display of three externally illuminated fascia signs measuring 1.5m x 0.19m and two non-i…
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
Track this application
Covent Garden Exchange 30 - 34 Bow Street London WC2E 7AT
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