- Decision
- allowed, 23 September 2026
- Decided by
- Planning Inspector: D Cleary
- Authority
- Hammersmith and Fulham (London)
- Appeal reference
- 6010549
- Application reference
- 2025/02533/FUL
- Procedure
- written representations
- Development
- Glazed single storey entrance extension over existing steps with handrail and new side steps to office building (interim works before Phase 2 redevelopment)
- Site context
- inside settlement
- Green Belt
- No
- Framework applied
- August 2026 NPPF
- Determinative policies
- s38(6)
- Development plan policies
- London Plan 2021 D5, H&F Planning Guidance SPD DA1, DA6
- Main issues
- safe and inclusive access
Summary
A glazed entrance foyer over stepped access to an office building, pending a consented redevelopment. Allowed. An existing step-free rear entrance, a conditioned access-improvement package and the interim nature of the works made the lack of level access at the front acceptable. The Framework's "format has altered" but the considerations had "not fundamentally changed" (DL ¶3).
What made the difference
Proportionality. These were interim works, with an alternative level entrance secured by an access management plan condition.
Policy findings
Policy codes are those of the National Planning Policy Framework (August 2026) unless a development plan is named.
| Policy | Finding | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| D5 (London Plan) | accord | no level access at front but existing level rear entrance plus secured access-improvement package; interim works before Phase 2 (DL 7-12) | |
| DP3(2)(f) | pass | safe and inclusive access — no Framework policy cited; code mapped by harvester |
Key facts
- Non-determination appeal; council would have refused on inclusive access (DL 4)
- Step-free rear entrance via barrier-controlled car park; access management plan, signage, disabled bay by condition (DL 8-9, 14)
- Costs application decided separately (DL 2)
Sources
This note is one of the decisions behind the NPPF 2026 Navigator, which shows how each Framework test has been applied across all the decisions in the database. Also available as Markdown.