The Planning Sub-Committee (1) of Westminster Council met on Tuesday 07 July 2026 to consider two planning applications. The meeting's agenda included discussions on a variation of a planning permission for a hotel development and a new roof extension for office accommodation.

Planning Application at 202 - 206 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 9SX

The committee was scheduled to discuss a proposed variation to an existing planning permission for the redevelopment of the former Belgravia Police Station into a hotel. The application sought amendments to the internal layout to accommodate an increase in guestrooms from 206 to 255, along with changes to the front-of-house offerings and alterations to rooflights and lightwells. A new fire escape onto Semley Place was also part of the proposal.

The report pack indicated that the original planning permission, granted in March 2025, allowed for a hotel with ancillary uses including restaurant, bar, gym, and spa facilities. The current application, submitted under section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, aimed to make material amendments to this permission.

Key considerations for this application included the impact of the increased number of guestrooms and revised facilities on residential amenity and local environmental quality. The report pack noted that the approved height, massing, detailed design, and total floorspace remained unchanged. It also highlighted that the proposed changes were contained within the approved building envelope.

The report pack recommended granting conditional permission, subject to the completion of a Deed of Variation to the S106 legal agreement to secure additional financial contributions towards the Council's Carbon offset fund and to support the Westminster Employment Service. The report also outlined alternative recommendations should the deed of variation not be completed within the specified timeframe.

Planning Application at 31 St Petersburgh Place, London, W2 4LA

The committee was also scheduled to consider a planning application for a phased development at 31 St Petersburgh Place. This application proposed a single-storey roof extension to provide additional office accommodation, along with infill extensions to the rear courtyard for further office space. Associated works included external landscaped terraces, new plant equipment, cycle parking, a new building entrance, and replacement windows.

The report pack described the proposed roof extension as having a modern, origami style roof constructed from cross-laminated timber, glass, and solar tiles. The infill extensions to the rear were designed to be more traditional in form, utilising similar materials. The application also detailed plans for terraces at second-floor level and a new entrance on St Petersburgh Place.

The report pack indicated that the proposals had been amended during the application process to reduce the height of the roof extension adjacent to St Matthews Church, following concerns raised by Historic England. The key considerations for this application included the acceptability of the proposed additional office accommodation, the design of the buildings, and their impact on the character and appearance of the Bayswater Conservation Area and the setting of nearby listed buildings, such as Grade I listed Aghia Sophia Cathedral and Grade II* listed St Matthew's Church. The impact on the amenity of neighbouring residential properties was also a significant factor.

The report pack suggested that the proposed roof extension would cause less than substantial harm to the Bayswater Conservation Area, but that this harm was considered to be outweighed by public benefits, including economic benefits from additional office floor space and job creation, the use of solar panels, and heritage benefits from the reinstatement of the St Petersburgh Place entrance. The report recommended granting conditional permission.