Planning applications in Westminster

Planning in Westminster

Westminster’s work is dominated by windows and doors. Of more than 66,000 planning applications since 2019, more than 16,000 were for windows and doors, far ahead of any other kind. Windows and doors are refused about 1 in 9 times, about the same as the national rate.

Overall, Westminster is a little more lenient than the areas we cover as a whole: about 1 in 9 decided applications is refused, against about 1 in 7 across the areas we cover. Its neighbours vary widely. It refuses less often than Brent (about 1 in 4) and Lambeth (about 1 in 6), and more often than Camden (about 1 in 11), Kensington (about 1 in 12), Wandsworth (about 1 in 15) and the City (about 1 in 70).

Extensions are refused about as often as across the areas we cover. Rear extensions, with more than 5,500 applications, are about 1 in 7, the same as the national rate, and side extensions and garden rooms and outbuildings are also about 1 in 7. Loft conversions and dormers are about 1 in 6, and front extensions and porches about 1 in 8, both better than the national figures. Fences, walls and gates are about 1 in 9, and solar panels are the easiest at about 1 in 13. Several of these are refused more often than the council’s overall rate.

Westminster has 3,996 listed buildings, 56 conservation areas and 10 Article 4 directions, so for many properties the heritage context will matter more than any general rate.

The median householder application took 8.1 weeks to decide, and 50% were decided within 8 weeks, across 857 decisions between 2023 and 2025.

Activity is rising. In 2025 the council received 9,267 applications, above the average of 8,223 a year in the three years before, and refused more often: about 1 in 8, against about 1 in 9. The busiest year on record was 2019, with 9,626 applications.

Figures in this section as of 9 October 2026.