by Monica | Feb 6, 2026 | Events, Latest News
The weather has been miserable and gloomy for weeks, but we have some good news to report for Belgravia: three projects in our neighbourhood area have been awarded funds from the Westminster City Council’s CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy – moneys collected from developers in the area to mitigate the effects of development and benefit the local community).
These are
- Repair, renovation and protection of the Headfort Arch. This is a Grade II listed structure on Halkin Street, which was designed by Thomas Cundy as part of the original plans for Belgravia. In recent years it has been damaged by construction traffic and is in a poor condition. The funds will be used to repair the damage and safeguard it for the future.
- Upgrading of the parish hall community space at St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square, including lift replacement and installation of a new kitchen. This space is a rare and vital amenity for the whole community, serving a multitude of uses ranging from toddler groups, choir practice, language classes, AA meetings, wedding receptions and funeral wakes.
- Extension of the play space for children at St Peter’s School, Lower Belgrave Street. Children at this lively school have long been short of play space. This project will provide facilities to include wet weather provision.
The Belgravia Neighbourhood Forum supported all these community projects with their application for funding. One of the tangible benefits of having an adopted Neighbourhood Plan, which we achieved in 2024, is that our share of local CIL moneys rose from 15% to 25% – giving us more funds for such local projects.
by Monica | Sep 8, 2025 | Events, Latest News
1. Major Developments Restarting
Three significant projects that have been inactive for the past 6–12 months are shortly to start with construction work:
- Cundy Estate, Ebury Street
- Kilmuir House, Ebury Street
- The former Belgravia Police Station, Ebury Square
Those living nearby should expect increased construction traffic and disruption over the coming months. Each site will display contact details for reporting any issues—please make a note of these once posted.
2. Planning Applications
The Forum continues to review all planning applications in the area, responding in line with the Belgravia Neighbourhood Plan and Design Codes—whether in support or to object. Do get in touch if you have concerns about a local application.
3. Basements and Extensions
Several recent applications have raised concerns, particularly those involving large sub-basement excavations (i.e. basements dug underneath the level of the original lowest level of a house), rear extensions, or roof terraces that risk overlooking or intruding on neighbours’ privacy, and we have raised objections to these. In several cases, our objections and those of neighbours have been noted by Council planners and the applications refused. In others, the applications have been permitted, principally because they fall within the limits of what is permitted by the current City Plan.
4. Revisions to City Plan
At present, Westminster City Council’s planning framework (City Plan 2019–2040) allows the digging of sub-basements. However, the City Plan is now under review, which gives us an opportunity to push for changes. We believe sub-basements below the original level of a house should be prohibited where they pose heritage, structural, or environmental risks—particularly in mews, listed buildings, and properties built before 1920.
I would very much welcome your views on such a potential “basement ban,” and any experiences you may have of building—or living next to—such projects. Do you support this idea, or not?
I look forward to hearing from you on chairman@thebelgraviaforum.org
With best wishes,
Monica Lucas
Chairman
by Monica | Apr 24, 2025 | Events, Latest News
I’m delighted to share with you that Westminster City Council has officially redesignated the Belgravia Neighbourhood Forum for another five years. This means we’ll continue as the recognised body representing the Belgravia Area on all matters relating to neighbourhood planning. You can view the formal decision and supporting documents on the Council’s website [here].
Over the past five years, the Forum has carried out extensive community consultation and developed a Neighbourhood Plan to guide planning and development in Belgravia through to 2040. The Plan was formally adopted by the Council in March 2024, following a local referendum in which an overwhelming 94% of Belgravia voters supported its adoption.
Looking ahead to the next five years, we’ll be focusing on bringing the Belgravia Plan to life, working towards our core goals: to preserve and enhance Belgravia’s distinctive character and built environment for future generations, and to ensure it remains a peaceful and welcoming ‘oasis’ at the heart of London—whether you live, work, or visit here.
Our work over the coming five years will include:
- Reviewing planning applications and responding in line with the Belgravia Neighbourhood Plan and Design Codes—whether in support or objection.
- Collaborating with developers to ensure that new buildings respect the character of our neighbourhood and contribute positively to residents’ quality of life.
- Encouraging local projects that enhance the area which could qualify for NCIL grants—currently, there’s £500,000 available to fund initiatives that benefit Belgravia.
- Representing Belgravia’s interests in wider discussions with the Council, other neighbourhood forums, landlords, and key stakeholders.
If you’d like to get more involved in our work and in your community, we’d love to hear from you—especially if you’re newer to the area and planning to make Belgravia your home or business base for the long term.
Monica Lucas
Chairman
by Monica | Dec 13, 2024 | Events, Latest News
This has been a busy and significant year for the Belgravia Neighbourhood Forum.
Since the successful referendum and adoption of the Belgravia Neighbourhood Plan at the start of 2024, we have been working to achieve some of the goals we set out to bring the Plan to life. These include
- Ensuring that Planning Officers and key relevant departments at Westminster City Council are fully aware of the Plan and the accompanying Design Codes. To this end we organised a presentation and walkabout for 12 Planning Officers on 11th June including those responsible for heritage and design issues. This was well received.
- We have been monitoring all planning applications in our area – over 100 to date this year. One third were in respect of major developments or extensions, including basement excavations; 20% are climate related installations (such as air conditioning and air source heat pumps), the balance being minor alterations to doors, windows, facades etc, all of which require planning permission.
- We have submitted formal objections to 12 of these where they breach the Plan or the Design Code guidelines, or could be considered inappropriate or disruptive to neighbours.
- We are very pleased to note that increasingly the Design Codes are being spontaneously mentioned in applications.
- Several major projects which are due to commence soon have consulted with us and have produced designs in line with the Plan and Design Codes. These include the redevelopment of Belgravia Garage in Eaton Mews West and the former Police Station in Ebury Square, as well as the retrofitting and refurbishment of the office block at 23 Lower Belgrave Street.
In 2025 we need to seek re-designation from Westminster City Council for a third successive 5-year term in order to continue to operate as the statutory Neighbourhood Forum looking after the interests of the built environment and residential amenity in Belgravia. The support of the community in helping us to gain this re-designation is very much appreciated.
Wishing you all a very jolly Christmas and a healthy and happy 2025.
Monica Lucas
Chairman
by Monica | Jun 18, 2024 | Events, Latest News
We are very pleased to report that – following the successful outcome of the local referendum in February 2024 – the Belgravia Neighbourhood Plan has now been adopted by Westminster City Council. This means that the Belgravia Neighbourhood Plan forms part of the Council’s statutory planning documents and that all planning applications in this area will now be considered against the policies of the Belgravia Neighbourhood Plan, alongside the Council’s other plans and guidelines. The full documents can be found on the Council’s website here.
The work of the Belgravia Neighbourhood Forum now moves into a different phase: bringing the plan to life. From now on we will be monitoring all planning applications in the area and submitting comments as appropriate. We are also working to ensure that all architects, designers and planning consultants covering this area are aware of the Plan and specifically its associated Design Codes.
We will continue to maintain ongoing relationships with key landowners and developers in the area and liaise with them to ensure that the Belgravia Neighbourhood Plan is observed. We are pleased to report that the Plan is already having a positive effect: the designs of three major new developments have closely followed the Design Code guidelines.
If you have any concerns about a planning issue in this area, please feel free to contact me at Chairman@thebelgraviaforum.org.
Wishing you an enjoyable summer.
Monica Lucas
Chairman
by Monica | Feb 23, 2024 | Events, Latest News
Dear Members and Friends
I am delighted to announce that 480 local electors voted YES in yesterday’s referendum to adopt the Belgravia Neighbourhood Plan, representing a 94% majority in favour.
The turnout was 14.82% of all electors eligible to vote – which given the very poor weather on Referendum Day, is a great result.
This represents a major step change in the life of the Belgravia Neighbourhood Forum. We will now move from a five-year period which has been spent in consulting with the community, developing the plan and seeing it through its various statutory stages, to a period of monitoring planning applications and working with Westminster City Council to ensure that Belgravia remains the attractive and pleasant place to live, work and visit.
With best wishes
Monica Lucas
Chairman
23rd February 2024
by Monica | Dec 19, 2023 | Events, Latest News
We are very pleased to announce that the Belgravia Neighbourhood Plan has reached the stage where all checks and processes have been completed and it can now proceed to the final step: endorsement by the local community in a referendum.
The referendum question is ‘Do you want Westminster City Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Belgravia to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’.
Please VOTE YES to adopt the Plan.
Reasons to vote YES
Voting YES will help to conserve the character of Belgravia’s built environment and maintain its unique and pleasant village ambience. Key policies and actions in the Plan focus on
- Ensuring new buildings are sympathetically designed (by encouraging adherence to the Belgravia Design Codes)
- protecting Belgravia’s village feel and daily life for residents
- reducing levels of through traffic
- guidelines for major development projects
- encouraging sustainable construction
- minimising construction disruptions
Voting YES will also increase Belgravia’s share of CIL money (the Community Infrastructure Levy the Council collects from new developments) which can be spent on local projects in Belgravia.
Make sure you are registered
All adults registered to vote in local elections can vote in this referendum.
If you live in Belgravia and are eligible to register – THIS MEANS YOU!
To vote in this referendum, you must be:
- registered to vote in the Belgravia Neighbourhood Area.
- at least 18 years old on the day of the referendum (22nd February 2024)
- a British or European Union citizen, or a Commonwealth citizen, who has or does not require leave to remain in the UK
Being registered with the Council for other services and paying council tax does not automatically include you on the register of electors. Registration to vote in this referendum, if not already registered, will close on 6th February 2024. Register at Gov.uk here.
- Second home owners. If you have another UK address and are registered there you can also register in Westminster ( if you spend roughly an equal amount of time at both addresses) and we urge you to do so.
- Polling station. Once registered, you will receive a poll card with details of the polling station where you can vote in person on referendum day, just as in any other election. The polling station will be at The Caledonian Club, Halkin Street, SW1X 7DR. You are required to show valid photo ID before you can vote – this is a new requirement.
- Postal voting. If you do not expect to be in Belgravia to vote in person, it is very important that you apply for a postal or proxy vote here . The deadline for applying for a postal vote will be 5pm on 7th February 2024 and for a proxy vote it will be 5pm on 14th February 2024.
With best seasonal greetings
Monica Lucas
Chairman
by Monica | Oct 11, 2023 | Events, Latest News
The Annual General Meeting of the Forum will take place on Wednesday 29th November starting at 7pm, at the Caledonian Club, Halkin Street.
I would like to make sure that members get this important date in their diaries NOW.
Why is the AGM especially important this year:
- After several years it will be a face to face meeting, with some refreshments following the meeting
- After five years and several rounds of consultation, approval of our Neighbourhood Plan is, as I write, with the Independent Examiner. Substantial progress has been made in the past year and I want to share this update with you.
Members will receive a formal invitation to the AGM nearer the date of meeting, BUT PLEASE DO PUT THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARIES
Best wishes
Dennis Wheatland
Chairman
by Monica | Oct 10, 2023 | Events, Latest News
The Belgravia Plan completed its formal Regulation 16 public consultation stage in July 2023 and is currently being examined by an Independent Examiner. Information about this process can be seen on Westminster City Council’s website here
The Plan is thus steadily moving through the necessary statutory stages towards final completion and a Referendum in which all local registered electors can vote. Barring any currently unexpected delays, this is envisioned for early 2024. Please look out for information about the Referendum in the coming months.
by Monica | Jun 7, 2023 | Events, Latest News
The Plan is now open for public consultation – Reg 16
Further to my last post I am now pleased to report that the Belgravia Neighbourhood Plan is now available for public consultation on Westminster City Council’s website and can be accessed here.
You should send your comments (whether positive, negative or neutral) directly to Westminster City Council on neighbourhoodplanning@westminster.gov.uk.
The consultation period will last for 6 weeks followed by examination by an independent examiner who will ensure that it meets the statutory basic conditions.
I will update you again once we have some indication of when to expect the Referendum on the Plan.
Thank you to all of those who have contributed to the development of the Plan to date.
With best wishes
Dennis Wheatland
