Westminster Council Rejects Chesterfield St. Flat Conversion Plan Citing Design and Conservation Concerns

Westminster Council has rejected a proposal to convert a property on Chesterfield Street into separate flats, citing concerns over design and conservation and its impact on the Mayfair Conservation Area. The property at 2 Chesterfield Street, currently in use as a single residential dwelling (Class C3), was the subject of an application to the Planning Sub-Committee (1) on Tuesday, 30 September 2025. The committee ultimately sided with the Director of Town Planning and Building Control's recommendation to refuse the application.

The application sought permission for:

• Creating a separate lower ground floor flat.
• Removing the existing roof structure above the third floor.
• Constructing a new sheer extension to the fourth floor level.
• Recreating the roof structure above the fourth floor level.

Additionally, a separate listed building application was submitted for internal alterations, including the removal of an existing stair, the introduction of a new stair and lift, and the reconfiguration of an existing stair at the lower ground floor and second floor.

The Director of Town Planning and Building Control recommended refusing both the planning permission and listed building consent, citing concerns about the design and the impact on the character of the Mayfair Conservation Area.

The Public reports pack stated that the Director of Town Planning and Building Control recommended refusal on design and conservation grounds.

The Schedule of Applications also noted that the recommendation was to refuse permission on design and conservation grounds.

The Planning Sub-Committee (1) included Councillor Patrick Lilley (Deputy Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Lead Member for Soho and LGBTQ+ Champion), Councillor Md Shamsed Chowdhury (Deputy Cabinet Member - Streets and Lead Member - Edgware Road Champion), Councillor Elizabeth Hitchcock, Councillor Iman Less (Night Time Champion), and Councillor Robert Rigby. The meeting took place in Rooms 18.01 - 18.03 on the 18th Floor, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP and was open to the public and live-streamed, according to the Agenda frontsheet.