Servicing hours for the development at 1 Silk Street, which includes demolition and construction of a new building for various uses including office, community, cultural, and retail, were narrowly debated at a City of London Planning Applications Sub-Committee meeting on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
The development comprises a basement level, ground and 20 upper storeys, plus a roof plant level, with new public space, pedestrian routes, landscaping, vehicle access, parking, and ancillary servicing space. It also involves external alterations to the adjoining Porter Tun Room of the former Whitbread Brewery.
A motion proposed by Deputy Deborah Oliver to bring forward the no-servicing hours from 11:00 PM to 9:00 PM was narrowly defeated. Deputy Oliver argued for this change due to concerns about the street already being congested, its role as a logical entrance to the Barbican, and the anticipated chucking out
problem from theatres between 9 pm and 11 pm. She also highlighted potential pedestrian impact, especially when performances finish, and the need to consider residential amenity given the adjacent residential block and the school's performances.
Arguments and concerns raised by committee members influenced the tied vote. While Deputy Oliver advocated for the 9:00 PM cutoff, the Chair believed the officers' amended recommendation offered a significant improvement. Marianne Fredericks supported the 9:00 PM cutoff, deeming it reasonable. However, Shravan Joshi questioned the potential for works to extend longer if operating hours were reduced. Clarity was sought on whether the discussion pertained to operational or construction servicing. Officers noted a review mechanism would be in place to monitor the situation.
Further discussions focused on condition 12, relating to servicing hours. The committee ultimately voted to approve the revised officer recommendation, which included more restrictive hours than previously proposed. The approved wording for Condition 12 states: No servicing of the premises shall be carried out between the hours of 23:00 on one day and 07:00 on the following day from Monday to Saturday and between 23:00 on Saturday and 07:00 on the following Monday and on Bank Holidays.
Servicing is defined as the loading and unloading of goods from vehicles and putting rubbish outside the building.
These servicing hour restrictions aim to safeguard the amenity of adjacent premises and the area, preventing obstruction of surrounding streets and protecting residents from noise and disturbance during nighttime hours. For businesses, this means deliveries and waste removal must occur within the specified windows. For residents, the primary implication is the reduction of noise and disturbance during overnight hours and on weekends/bank holidays.
The committee then voted to approve all recommendations as amended through the various conversations, which was carried.
For more details on the meeting, refer to the Public reports pack and the Addendum Pack.