®Planning appeal decision
26 Leinster Square, London, W2 4NQ
Planning appeal 3361064 at 26 Leinster Square, London, W2 4NQ (City of Westminster Council) was allowed on 5 August 2025 by Inspector McDonagh C, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: For Appeal A – the effect of amending conditions 1 and 2 on the living conditions and security of occupants of the HMO.
‘use as a large HMO (sui generis use) and associated external and internal alterations’ without complying with conditions attached to planning permission Ref 21/04569/FULL, dated 21/11/2021
- Authority
- City of Westminster Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- McDonagh C
- Postcode
- W2 4NQ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- For Appeal A – the effect of amending conditions 1 and 2 on the living conditions and security of occupants of the HMO.
- For Appeal B – whether the retrospective and/or proposed works preserve/would preserve the Grade II listed building, or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses.
What decided it
The overriding factor was whether the harm caused by intrusive kitchen and bathroom 'pods' to the historic planform of the listed building outweighed the limited public benefits, which determined the split outcome on Appeal B, while acceptance of amended plans securing occupant safety determined the allowance of Appeal A.
The less than substantial harm to the significance of the listed building, to which great weight was given, was not outweighed by the limited benefits of an additional letting room and construction activity, so those elements of Appeal B were dismissed, while other unharmful elements were allowed; Appeal A was allowed as the amended conditions secured suitable living conditions.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 10Policy 12Policy 38Policy 39
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 212Paragraph 215
- Judgments
- Holborn Studios Ltd v The Council of the London Borough of Hackney (2018); Bernard Wheatcroft v Secretary of State for the Environment (1982)
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in City of Westminster Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Dismissed28 October 202660123391 Bear Street, London, WC2H 7DZ
- Dismissed28 October 2026600992025 Monmouth Road, London, W2 4UT
- Dismissed21 October 20266014604South Terrace, Third and Fourth Floor, 4 Matthew Parker Street, London, SW1H 9NP
- Dismissed21 October 20266012002Flat B, 9 Durham Terrace, London, W2 5PB
- Allowed21 October 2026601140517 Bruton Street, London, W1J 6QB
The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.