Councillor Geoff Barraclough
Councillor Geoff Barraclough

Westminster Labour is today highlighting a series of planning permissions granted to Robin Birley, a Tory donor who gave £20,000[1] to Boris Johnson’s leadership campaign in 2019. Conservative councillors have SEVEN times over-ruled City of Westminster planning officers to grant permissions that its own planning experts had recommended for refusal.

Mr Birley runs a private members club at 5 Hertford Street, a listed building in Mayfair. The club was the location of the Foreign Secretary’s recent and very expensive, £1,400 lunch with the US Trade Representative which Foreign Office staff had advised against.

The planning permissions granted are set out below.

In every instance, the ruling Conservative administration in Westminster went against the advice of its own planning and conservation experts. In every instance, the Planning Committee that took the decision was chaired by Councillor Robert Davis who subsequently was forced to resign following revelations of the excessive hospitality he had received from property developers. Councillor Davis had twice declared gifts from Mr Birley.[2]

Councillor Geoff Barraclough, shadow cabinet member for planning said:

“Westminster takes its role as custodian of historic buildings very seriously. That’s why it’s so surprising to see its Planning Committee overturning the planning officers’ recommendations so often to benefit Mr Birley. It certainly looks like one rule for Tory donors and another for everyone else.”

  • 11/05481/ADFULL. Details of management plan pursuant to Condition 5 of permission dated 16 September 2010 (RN: 10/05612). Recommended for refusal. Granted at committee 15/9/11.
  • 11/05483/FULL. Installation of canopy and fireplace in internal courtyard. Recommended for refusal. Granted at committee 15/9/11.
  • 11/05484/LBC. Installation of canopy and fireplace in internal courtyard. Recommended for refusal. Granted at committee 15/9/11.
  • 12/05260/FULL. Installation of three cast iron bollards on Trebeck Street (between Shepherd Market and Shepherd Street). Recommended for refusal. Granted at committee 4/9/12.
  • 14/02264/FULL. Variation of Condition 1 of planning permission dated 12 April 2013 (RN:13/00755/FULL) for alterations to the existing shopfronts and installation of new canopies and fabric namely to allow the installation of electronically retractable awnings, with fixed support stanchion attached to existing planters on the Shepherd Market frontage. [Site includes 2, 3, 4 and 5 Hertford Street; 2, 4, 6 and 8 Trebeck Street]. Recommended for refusal. Granted at committee 15/7/14.
  • 16/09864/TCH. Use of an area of public highway measuring 18.9m x 3.5m for the placing of 15 tables and 37 chairs and associated timber decking, planters with awning support stations and removable glazed screens, timber trellis and free-standing external heaters and lighting in connection with the existing ground floor use. Recommended for refusal. Granted at committee 17/1/17.
  • 16/09865/LBC. Installation of timber decking, planters with awning support stations and removable glazed screens, timber trellis and free-standing external heaters and lighting in connection with the use of the public highway for the placing of tables and chairs. Recommended for refusal. Granted at committee 17/1/17.

[1] The Times 5 July 2019

[2] Westminster Council Investigation into Councillor Davis. https://www.westminster.gov.uk/sites/default/files/cllr_davis_report_bundle.pdf

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