The Planning Applications Sub-Committee of the City of London Council met on Wednesday 08 July 2026 to discuss conditions relating to 1 Silk Street and a planning application for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The committee approved revised conditions for 1 Silk Street, including a decision to move concrete crushing off-site, and granted planning permission and listed building consent for alterations to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama's Silk Street entrance.

1 Silk Street: Conditions Approved

The committee discussed the conditions for the development at 1 Silk Street¹. A key decision was made regarding condition 67, concerning concrete reuse. Following debate and a motion put forward by Alderman Elizabeth King, it was agreed that concrete crushing would be moved off-site. This decision was made after concerns were raised by Alderman King and other members about the potential noise and amenity impacts of on-site concrete crushing in a residential area. Environmental Health officers provided reassurance that on-site crushing was unlikely and that mitigations would be in place.

Further discussions focused on condition 12, relating to servicing hours. A motion proposed by Deputy Deborah Oliver to bring forward the no servicing hours from 23:00 to 21:00 was narrowly defeated after a tied vote was resolved by the Chair's casting vote against it. The committee ultimately voted to approve the revised officer recommendation, which included more restrictive hours than previously proposed.

Regarding terraces (condition 16), a motion to amend the hours to 19:00 was initially proposed by Alderman King, but this was subsequently amended to 20:00, which was then approved by the committee.

Finally, the committee discussed condition 14, concerning a further set of doors for noise containment. While Marianne Fredericks proposed a motion to amend the condition to include double lobbies on restaurant units, officers advised that this might not meet the National Planning Policy Framework test for enforceability. The committee ultimately agreed to withdraw the motion and for officers to engage with the developer to encourage proper management of noise.

The committee then voted to approve all recommendations as amended through the various conversations, which was carried.

Guildhall School of Music and Drama: Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent Granted

The committee considered a planning application and a listed building consent application for alterations to the external area adjacent to Silk Street and to the main entrance of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (GSMD)². The proposals included new lighting, replacement of cycle parking with planters, and new entrance doors, as well as internal alterations to the main entrance, foyer, atrium, and café.

During the discussion, significant concerns were raised by local residents regarding potential noise disturbance, light pollution, and the removal of a mirror used for car park safety. Objectors also questioned the accuracy of data submitted by the applicant and the heritage impact of the proposed scale and massing.

Despite these concerns, the committee ultimately voted to grant planning permission and listed building consent. The Chair highlighted that the scheme had been materially reduced since previous submissions, including reductions in height and setbacks from neighbouring buildings. The Chair also noted that Historic England had not objected to the application and emphasised the need to consider the full planning balance, including economic growth and wider public benefits. The Chair suggested that refusing the application could lead to a strategically important site being underused, while approval could attract occupiers, support the City's economic role, improve the public realm, and create a new entrance to the Barbican Centre. The Chair also drew parallels to the Barbican's own history of post-war regeneration.

Several members expressed their dissent from the majority decision, citing concerns about heritage impacts, residential amenity, and the scale of the development.